An advocacy group, Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), has called on President Bola Tinubu to set up an independent panel to investigate allegation of sexual violence against former female soldier, Private Ruth Ogunleye by some senior military personnel.
Ogunleye, who was relieved from service after accusing a senior officer, Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, of sexual harassment, had told the Nigerian Army authorities to publish the outcome of its investigation into the matter.
In January 2024, via her TikTok page, @Ogunleyeruthsavage1, Ogunleye alleged that Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S. Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo had made her life unbearable.
The former Army personnel accused Abdulkareem of making repeated attempts to assault her, administering injections against her will, forcibly removing her from her residence, and confining her to a psychiatric hospital for several months after she rejected his sexual advances.
However, the Army authorities have exonerated the accused, claiming that Ogunleye is suffering from mental instability.
But in a statement made available to SaharaReporters on Sunday, Youth Rights Campaign, said it is worrisome that a serious allegation of sexual violence against a Nigerian female soldier, is yet to get the attention of the President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria, despite his repeated promise to work towards ending gender-based violence and increase learning opportunities for girls in safe and favourable environment.
Calling for an independent panel to investigate the alleged sexual assault, YRC also condemned the silence of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, and his counterpart in the House of Representatives Abdullahi Mamudu.
The group maintained that Nigerian Army the claim made by the army authorities that Ruth Ogunleye has mental health issues as a reason for discharging her, can’t be taken seriously as there are several unanswered questions in its investigation into the case.
In a statement signed by its National Secretary, Francis Nwapa, the group said, “Allegation of rape against a superior in work place, threat to life, torture and attempted murder can’t be left for the Nigeria Army authorities given a possibility of cover-up.
“There must be an independent panel to investigate the serious allegation considering that there are several other female soldiers who could be going through similar violence from their superiors.
“We demand, therefore, that President Tinubu set up a sexual misconduct panel that will constitute credible civil society groups and activists, women rights organisations, NBA, NMA, ASUU etc. Such an open panel should be empowered to summon anyone within and outside the military hierarchy and its recommendations should be implemented upon submission of findings.
“While we await this, we demand that Col. IB Abdulkareem, Brigadier Gen. IB Solebo, Col. GS Ogoh who have all been alleged to have played a part in the alleged crime be temporarily relieved of their duty pending determination of the matter.”
“We also request that upon the findings of the panel, if the accused military officers are found culpable, recommendations on punishment must also be extended to members of the Army panel and hierarchy for conspiracy and cover up,” it added.