Former Soldier Shares Rape Experience In Nigerian Army, Inspires Other Victims To Reach Out

Former Soldier Shares Rape Experience In Nigerian Army, Inspires Other Victims To Reach Out....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In an interview with BIODUN BUSARI, Ruth Ogunleye, a former soldier, shared her disturbing account of an alleged sexual assault by a superior officer while serving at the Nigerian Army Cantonment Medical Centre in Ojo, Lagos……..CONTINUE READING 

**Initial Allegations**

The incidents began in 2022, shortly after Ogunleye joined the Medical Corps. The commanding officer, a Colonel (name withheld), initiated contact by sending her gifts, which she consistently refused. On February 27, 2022, he summoned her to Eagleston Hotel, where he propositioned her for sex, offering N50,000 and a promise of admission to a military school. Ogunleye declined, citing the army’s code of conduct against such relationships.

**Retaliation and Abuse**

Following her rejection, Ogunleye reported that the Colonel retaliated by subjecting her to excessive duties and unjust punishments. She alleged he began administering Largactil, a sedative typically used for psychiatric patients, without her consent. “I was conscious, but I had no choice,” she recalled, detailing how soldiers would pin her down while the Colonel injected her. After these assaults, she was sometimes placed in a body bag and ordered to be taken to a psychiatric hospital.

**Isolation and Control**

Ogunleye described a systematic effort to isolate her from her peers and limit her access to education and family. Despite her pleas to attend military courses or visit her family, the Colonel blocked her applications, claiming she was mentally unstable. “He ensured I couldn’t progress in my career,” she said.

Colleagues were aware of the situation, with some who confronted the Colonel facing transfers. One civilian doctor who refused to label Ogunleye as mentally ill was allegedly dismissed for opposing the Colonel’s narrative.

**Attempts at Redress**

Seeking help proved difficult within the military structure. Ogunleye attempted to escalate her grievances but found little support. Even after contacting high-ranking officers, she was advised to “endure” her situation. Eventually, she sought guidance from the Army Legal Service and was encouraged to file a formal complaint.

However, her case was largely ignored by the board, which failed to seek evidence or witnesses. “They just decided to let the matter die,” she lamented.

**Path to Discharge**

In January 2024, after sharing her story on social media, Ogunleye was summoned for an investigation by the Military Police. With assistance from the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, she underwent tests that confirmed she was neither using drugs nor suffering from any mental illness.

After expressing her desire to leave the military, Ogunleye was advised to apply for a voluntary discharge. Although this would mean forfeiting pension benefits due to her limited service, she later learned from the Chief of Army Staff that she would receive a medical discharge with pension eligibility.

**A Broader Issue**

Following her online disclosure, Ogunleye was contacted by other female soldiers who had faced similar harassment. “They were too afraid to come forward publicly for fear of losing their jobs,” she noted, underscoring a culture of silence surrounding such issues in the military.

In the midst of her ordeal, Ogun