Recent news of Miss Ruth Ogunleye’s abrupt discharge from the Nigerian Army has sparked a firestorm of reactions, with many Nigerians expressing outrage and disbelief over the decision.
While the Nigerian Army claimed its decision was taken due to Ogunleye’s mental state, critics however argued that the Army’s move was a clear attempt to silence Ogunleye, who had spoken out about the sexual harassment and assault she suffered at the hands of some senior officers.
Recall that former Private Ogunleye had on January 9, 2024, taken to social media, revealing how she faced relentless harassment, intimidation, and even physical assault from three senior Army officers because she refused their advances.
She specifically alleged in a video that went viral that one of the officers, Colonel IB Abdulkareem, at the Nigerian Army Medical Corps headquarters, Lagos, where she served, threatened to dismiss her from service and also spread false rumours about her mental health because she refused to allow him to sleep with her.
She further stated that efforts to seek help were met with resistance and betrayal, alleging that Abdulkareem froze her account, leaving her without a salary for over a year, an action she said pushed her to the brink of despair.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, at a press briefing in Abuja earlier this week, stated that an exhaustive review of the claims found no evidence of wrongdoing by Colonel Abdulkareem.
He said: “Upon receipt of her initial complaint, which included allegations of sexual harassment, the Nigerian Army took immediate action. The matter was referred to the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police and tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into the veracity of her claims. The investigation was conducted in line with established protocols, with every effort made to ensure a fair and impartial process.
“It is crucial to assert that the Nigerian Army, in its bid to ensure justice and transparency, conducted an exhaustive review of the facts, testimonies, and evidence presented. The investigation concluded that Colonel IB Abdulkareem did not commit the offence of sexual harassment as alleged by Ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye. The findings were definitive and based on an objective evaluation of the available information. The Army maintains that Colonel Abdulkareem is a disciplined, regimented, and firm officer who has upheld the values of the Nigerian Army throughout his service.
“Suffice it to mention that Ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye had been recommended for discharge on medical grounds since 2022, but the Nigerian Army, being sympathetic to its own, thought it wise to give her the best medical treatment possible, stabilize her before discharging her into the wider society. Hence, while the Army was addressing the allegations of sexual harassment, further concerns about Ruth Ogunleye’s conduct came to light.
“Her behaviour, both online and offline, raised questions about her worsening mental health and emotional stability. Consequently, the Nigerian Army referred Ex-Pte Ruth Ogunleye for medical evaluation at the National Hospital in Abuja, following earlier assessments made by the Nigerian Army Medical Corps that suggested potential mental health concerns. This decision was taken to safeguard her well-being and to ensure that any action taken by the Nigerian Army was informed by a comprehensive understanding of her condition as advised by trained professionals.
“The medical evaluation confirmed that Ruth Ogunleye was suffering from a condition that made her medically vulnerable. In light of this, the Army, while fully capable of proceeding with disciplinary action for her acts of indiscipline and misconduct, opted to exercise compassion and leniency. Based on the medical report from the National Hospital and the advice of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, the decision was made to shelve any disciplinary procedures that could have been brought against her. Instead, the Army prioritized her health, understanding that she was in no position to continue with military service. She was subsequently boarded and discharged from service.”
Immediately the news was disseminated via various media, Ogunleye took to TikTok, where she has been vocal about her experiences, to seek answers on why her discharge was attributed to a mental health condition.
She , insisted that it was not part of her original resignation and therefore called on the Nigerian Army to release the outcome of the investigation into her sexual harassment allegations.
The former soldier, who revealed that she was discharged from the Army on June 15, 2024, also called on the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, to speak out on the matter, since Kennedy encouraged her to write about her discharge letter and submit it to the Army.
The stark discrepancy between Ogunleye’s seemingly clear and rational speech and the Army’s justifications for her discharge raised grave concerns among members of Civil Society Organizations.
They posited that Ruth Ogunleye’s articulate and composed demeanour utterly belied claims of mental instability, apparently due to her posture on TikTok, where her words were laced with precision and coherence that contradicted the attempts to discredit her, leaving people to question the veracity of the claims by the Army.
The Executive Director, of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, Mr. Okechukwu Nwagunma, wondered why it took the Army long to detect the discharged soldier’s health condition.
He said, “My first question would be: at what point did the Army discover that the discharged female Private soldier had mental health issues? Or, rather, how long has she been suffering from this mental health problem: before enrollment into the Army or after? If it was before enrollment, how come recruitment screening – which usually includes medical checks – did not detect it? Or did she develop a mental problem after she enrolled in the military?
“Is it possible for Army authorities to make public the report, findings, and outcomes of investigations into the allegations by the discharged soldier against the senior officer? This whole saga needs to be subjected to external and independent scrutiny and assessment to arrive at a convincing and publicly trustworthy conclusion.”
Lending a voice to Nwagunma’s call for an independent investigation, the Founder of the Women and Children Initiative, Hadiza Ado, in an interview said, “The army is known for not wanting to wash its dirty linen in public.
“If the Army investigation is saying she had a medical condition which affects her, then for how long was she in the service with that condition, why coming out to say it now that she was dismissed?” she asked.
The social media frenzy, public debates, and media attention on this matter have all contributed to a cacophony of voices, each with its own perspective on the matter. Female soldiers in the Armed Forces and other security agencies were not left out in the debate.
While some hailed Ogunleye’s courage in speaking out, others criticized her actions as unprofessional and attention-seeking.
A good number of them who spoke from the six geopolitical zones said she should have endured the harassment in silence or sought redress through official channels, such as writing a letter to the Chief of Army Staff. They argued that making the matter public has brought shame to the Army and undermined the institution’s authority.
However, others came to Ogunleye’s defence, stating that her actions were a reflection of the systemic issues within the security agencies. They claimed that beautiful female security agents were often subjected to sexual harassment and victimization, particularly if they did not have a “godfather” or refused to succumb to officers’ advances.
According to a Private soldier in the Nigerian Army, who gave her name simply as Dorcas, “the Military has a culture of silence, where female soldiers are often posted to difficult terrain or face other forms of punishment if they do not comply with officers’ demands. Some female soldiers may even engage in transactional relationships with officers to secure favourable postings.
“In the case at hand, only God can tell the true position of things in this case. I advise her parents to come out and speak at this moment on whether their daughter had any mental disorder before she was enlisted into the Army”, she said.
Another female soldier who spoke from Kano, Private Zainab, said, “In the first video, Ruth alleged that she was injected. Who knows if the injection could be the cause of the result of the medical test the Army said it conducted on her? This is where I support the call for an independent medical investigation to determine if indeed she has any mental disorder and for how long it has been.
Also, a female Flight Sergeant in the Nigerian Air Force who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “An injury to one is an injury to all. In this case, I also suggest an independent investigation to put paid to the controversy in this matter.
“If this issue is not fully addressed, the impact on female soldiers will be devastating. The silence and shame that have long surrounded sexual harassment in this context will only continue to perpetuate a culture of fear and intimidation. Female soldiers will be reluctant to speak out, fearing retaliation, ridicule, or damage to their careers. The consequences will be far-reaching, affecting not only the well-being and safety of female soldiers but also the overall morale and effectiveness of the military.
“It is imperative that the military takes concrete steps to address this issue, ensuring that all personnel can serve with dignity and respect. The noise created by Ogunleye’s issue must not be allowed to fade away; instead, it must serve as a call to action, prompting meaningful change and a safer, more inclusive environment for all.
“That may be almost impossible because of the regimental nature of the Military. Perhaps, if the discharged lady had a godfather or a senior officer she could confide in, the situation would not have escalated this way”.
A female cop with the Nigeria Police who also spoke on the condition of anonymity expressed concern about the implications of Ogunleye’s dismissal, particularly for female security agents who may be hesitant to report similar incidents of harassment or assault. The move, she said, sent a chilling message that speaking out would result in reprisal and career damage.
“The handling of the situation has raised questions about addressing the systemic issues that allow sexual harassment and assault to thrive.
“Ruth Ogunleye’s discharge on the ground of mental challenge has sparked a long-overdue conversation about the treatment of women in the Military and other security agencies and the need for accountability and reform.
“Ultimately, her courage in speaking out should spark up a necessary conversation about the experiences of not just female soldiers but females in other security agencies.
“It is now up to the institution to listen and take action to ensure that all personnel can serve with dignity and respect. It is Ruth Ogunleye, who knows whose turn it will be tomorrow”.
“Instances of officer victimization are relatively rare in the Navy, as an individual officer’s influence over one’s career advancement is limited. However, it’s also important to acknowledge that some individuals may proactively seek out relationships with officers for personal gains, such as facilitated transfers or access to privileges. This phenomenon is not unique to the Navy or security agencies, but rather a reflection of broader societal dynamics. Indeed, similar power imbalances and competitive behaviours can be observed in various institutions and social contexts.”
