The Federal Government has responded to the disturbing allegations of sexual harassment, intimidation, and threats to life made by a female soldier, Ruth Ogunleye, against senior officers of the Nigerian Army.
In a viral TikTok video, Ogunleye accused a colonel and two other senior officers of subjecting her to unfair treatment, stigmatization, drugging, salary stoppage, and eviction from her apartment.
In a statement on Monday, the Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, condemned the alleged sexual harassment and pledged to intervene in the matter. She expressed concern over the content of the video, which has gained widespread attention on various social media platforms.
The minister called on the Nigerian Army to conduct a thorough investigation into the grievous allegations. She commended the military for its history of discipline, decorum, and comportment, emphasizing the need for the alleged sexual harassment claims to be taken seriously.
Addressing the issue, Kennedy-Ohanenye stated, “The contents of the video are so disturbing and should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet as women remain weaker vessels and should not be subjected to any form of maltreatment, dehumanization or harassment, especially in an egalitarian society where gender balance and fairness should be upheld by all and sundry.”
She reassured the public of her ministry’s commitment to eliminating gender disparity and all forms of violence against women. The minister emphasized her determination to protect the interests of Nigerian women and condemned situations where women face unfair treatment.
“As the Minister of Women’s Affairs, I remain resolute in my resolve to protect the interest of Nigerian women and strongly condemn the contents of the online video if verified to be true,” Kennedy-Ohanenye added.
The call for a thorough investigation and intervention by the Federal Government comes amid growing concerns about the well-being and safety of women in the military, and the need to address issues of harassment and misconduct within the armed forces.
