In a shocking revelation, Ex-Nigerian soldier Ruth Ogunleye has come forward to expose the horrific abuse she suffered at the hands of her senior officer during her military service.
With raw emotion, she detailed the distressing experiences of alleged molestation and dehumanization, describing how she was treated like a worthless object.
Determined to get justice, Ogunleye boldly urged the higher ranks to launch a thorough investigation into her harrowing ordeal Ruth Ogunleye, a courageous former soldier of the Nigerian Army, is shattering the silence surrounding her controversial discharge, firmly rejecting claims that she left due to medical issues.
In a riveting live interview with AIT, Ruth opened up about the traumatic ordeal that forced her to walk away from a military career—an experience, she claimed was marred by abuse at the hands of a Colonel.
With palpable emotion, Ruth recounted the horrific details of her alleged assault, claiming that the colonel violently forced himself on her in his office, a violation that left her shaken to her core.
According to her, despite her bravery in reporting the incident, she was met with indifference and disbelief from her superiors, who dismissed her claims as fabrications.
In an even more shocking twist, Ruth alleged that the Colonel subjected her to further humiliation by placing her inside a body bag in a casket —an object typically reserved for fallen soldiers.
This act of degradation, Ruth claimed, not only stripped away her dignity but also instilled a deep sense of fear and isolation within her, made it impossible to continue serving in an environment that felt increasingly hostile and unsafe.
In Ruth’s words:
“He forcibly slept with me inside his office and put me inside a casket which is called a body bag and nothing is being done. They normally use it in the northeast to bury soldiers who die during war.
“So he put me inside a casket. I sought redress but nobody listened to me, they did not believe what I was saying and I have evidence”
The Nigerian army had exonerated Ishiaku Abdulkareem, a colonel, of allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation of Ogunleye.
Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, spoke to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja on the outcome of the investigation.
Speaking on the outcome of the investigation, Nwachukwu said the findings of the panel that investigated the allegations “were definitive and based on objective evaluation of the available information”.
“The investigation concluded that Colonel IB Abdulkareem did not commit the offence of sexual harassment as alleged by Ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye,” the army spokesperson said.
“The army maintains that Col. Abdulkareem is a disciplined, regimented, and firm officer who has upheld the values of the Nigerian Army throughout his service.”
The army spokesperson added that in 2022, the female soldier was recommended for discharge on medical grounds.
Nwachukwu said the army decided to keep Ogunleye in the service to give her the best medical treatment possible before her dismissal.
He added that during the course of investigation, it was observed that the mental health condition of the female soldier had worsened.
“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,” Nwachukwu said.
“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 in June.
“She has also been paid her Terminal Leave Allowance and Terminal Packing Allowance, as well as her contributions to Nigerian Army Welfare Insurance Scheme (NAWIS) and Benevolent Fund (BENFUND).
“The payments were made on 14 August 2024 into her FCMB account. Her Security Debarment Allowance for the period she served (5 years 54 days) has also been paid.
“The decision for her discharge was reached following her rejection of an offer of medical treatment either from the National Hospital or the Nigerian Army.”
The army spokesperson said although the female soldier did not serve up to 10 years, she will receive 50 percent monthly pension for life.
Nwachukwu alleged that Ogunleye still continued to use her social media accounts to “defame and spread false narratives” against senior officers.
In January 2024, Ogunleye, in a video she published on TikTok, accused three senior officers in the army of harassment, intimidation and threat to life.
Ogunleye said her trouble started when she was posted to theCantonment Medical Centre, Ojo, Lagos, where she met the colonel.
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