Sad News: Former Junior Soldier Accuses a Nigerian Army Col of Harassment
Ruth Ogunleye, a former Junior soldier in the Nigerian Army, has recently opened up about her alleged abuse at the hands of Colonel I.B Abdulkareem during her service at the Army Cantonment Medical Center in Ojo, Lagos. Ruth revealed that she was subjected to persistent harassment by the senior officer, a situation that led her to eventually seek help from her father.
Repeated Harassment and Abuse
In an interview published by Punch, Ruth detailed her experience with Colonel Abdulkareem, who allegedly made inappropriate advances towards her throughout her tenure in the army. Despite her efforts to handle the situation internally, Ruth found herself unable to put an end to the harassment. She disclosed that the abuse went beyond mere verbal advances, escalating into pressure to engage in inappropriate behavior.
Seeking Help from Her Father
Feeling cornered and out of options, Ruth turned to her father for assistance. After recounting her ordeal, her father decided to intervene by contacting Colonel Abdulkareem directly. Ruth shared how her father, in an attempt to resolve the issue, asked the Colonel why his daughter was being mistreated.
According to Ruth, Abdulkareem's response was chilling. He instructed her father to tell her to “obey the last order,” a phrase traditionally associated with military discipline. However, Ruth explained that in this context, it was a sinister demand for her compliance with his inappropriate sexual advances.
Breaking Her Silence
Ruth further explained that it was during this conversation with her father that she fully disclosed the extent of the Colonel’s demands. She recounted how she finally told her father that Abdulkareem’s harassment was sexual in nature, revealing the officer’s desire to exploit her position and compel her into an unwanted relationship.
In her own words: “I reported him to my dad after I exhausted all the options I had at that time. My dad requested his phone number and called him. When my father asked him why he was treating me unfairly, all he told my father was that he should tell me ‘to obey the last order.’ It was at that moment that I told my father that he wanted to be sleeping with me.”
Call for Accountability
Ruth's revelations have shed light on the broader issue of abuse of power and harassment within the military. Her decision to speak out highlights the importance of addressing such issues in environments where authority is absolute, and the consequences of defiance can be severe. The case calls for further investigation and action, as it underscores the need for safeguarding individuals from exploitation and abuse in hierarchical institutions like the military
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