‘Sexual Assaults’: Nigerian Army Urged To Review Policy On Female Officers

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Nigerian Army to review its policy concerning women in the military.

HURIWA’s national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the military’s alleged violation of the rights of some female officers — Ruth Ogunleye, Lance Corporal Philomena Nnamoko, and Beauty Uzezi — indicate that the army is deficient in compliance to global best practices on gender equality.

Onwubiko said in a statement, “Ruth Ogunleye bravely spoke out against senior officers who allegedly harassed and threatened her after she rejected sexual advances, while Uzezi was brutally raped by her superior and subsequently dismissed from service without receiving justice.

“Beauty Uzezi’s harrowing account of sexual assault and subsequent dismissal from the Nigerian Air Force, coupled with the recent allegations of harassment and abuse by Ruth Ogunleye and Lance Corporal Philomena Nnamoko, underscore the pervasive culture of impunity within the Nigerian military.

“Ogunleye, in a viral video, revealed the torment she faced from senior army officers after refusing their sexual advances. She identified them as Col. I.B. Abdulkareem, Col. G.S. Ogor, and Brig. Gen. I.B. Solebo. She described being locked up, ejected from her apartment, and falsely placed in a psychiatric hospital. Ruth alleged multiple attempted rapes by Col. Abdulkareem, who later claimed she had a mental illness.

“Lance Corporal Philomena Nnamoko, a soldier attached to Ilese Sappers Barracks, Division 2, Ogun State, alleged that her senior colleagues had been bullying and harassing her due to her refusal to acquiesce to their sexual advances. She was reportedly beaten and sent to the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital.”

Onwubiko said the alleged widespread discrimination, harassment, and assault faced by female soldiers urgently calls for Nigeria to align its military practices with global standards of gender equality and universal human rights laws.

The rights group asked the country’s service chiefs to emulate the chief of defence staff who has an adviser on human rights by appointing professional military officers with human rights related backgrounds as special advisers on human rights.

“These cases reveal a disturbing pattern of senior officers exploiting their positions of power to prey upon and victimize female soldiers, while the authorities turn a blind eye or actively cover up these heinous acts.

“As Nigerians anxiously await the outcome of the promised investigation by the Nigerian Army, it is evident that urgent reforms are needed to hold perpetrators accountable, protect the rights of female soldiers, and ensure justice for all victims of abuse within the military ranks,” HURIWA stated.

HURIWA further called on the National Assembly to pass a legislation criminalising discriminatory practices against female soldiers and ensuring their full protection and inclusion within the military.

“Our campaign for justice and equality within the Nigerian Military represents a crucial step towards building a more inclusive and rights-respecting society. By holding perpetrators accountable, enacting reforms, and fostering a culture of respect, Nigeria can pave the way for a brighter future where all individuals, regardless of gender, can thrive and contribute to national security and development,” HURIWA added.