A former Nigerian soldier, Ruth Ogunleye, has released a video calling for the Nigerian Army to publish the full investigation into her rape and harassment allegations. Ogunleye made her accusations public via TikTok in January, after the military discharged her. She alleges that senior officers were responsible for her ordeal, which has sparked outrage across Nigeria.
Allegations of Rape and Harassment
In January, Ruth Ogunleye took to TikTok to accuse a general and two colonels of raping and sexually harassing her. She stated that these officers injected, handcuffed, and confined her. Her initial video generated widespread outrage, prompting the Nigerian Women’s Minister to discuss the case with the military. The Nigerian Army dismissed her allegations despite the public outcry and claimed they discharged her on medical grounds.
Army Dismisses Allegations
The Nigerian Army investigated Ogunleye’s accusations and concluded that her claims were unfounded. Army spokesperson General Onyema Nwachukwu explained that Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, one of the accused officers, was cleared of wrongdoing. The Army also stated that they discharged Ogunleye due to a medical condition that made her vulnerable, though they did not disclose specific details.
Calls for Transparency
Ogunleye has now released a second TikTok video in which she calls on the Nigerian Army to publish the findings of the investigation. In her video, she questions the Army’s narrative and insists that the public deserves to know the truth. “I want to beg the Nigerian Army to post the outcome of the investigation on all social media platforms, so that the world would know what transpired,” she said. Women’s rights activists have echoed her call, demanding an independent investigation into the matter.
Army Accuses Ogunleye of Defamation
General Nwachukwu accused Ogunleye of spreading false narratives and cyberbullying senior officers. He confirmed that the Army referred her case to the Military Police for a thorough investigation. The investigation found no evidence supporting Ogunleye’s claims. However, activists argue the military often fails to address internal scandals properly. This has raised scepticism about the investigation’s transparency.
Women’s Rights Groups Demand Action
Women’s rights organisations in Nigeria have rallied behind Ogunleye, calling for an independent probe into her allegations. Hadiza Ado, founder of the Women and Children Initiative, criticised the Army for its handling of the case.She questioned why the Army only mentioned Ogunleye’s medical condition after her dismissal. Ado asked, “If the Army claims she had a medical condition, why wasn’t this addressed earlier?” highlighting what she sees as inconsistencies in the Army’s response.
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