Allegations of Oppression: Army Responds to Female Soldier’s Claims Against High-Ranking Officers

In response to a viral video featuring a female soldier accusing senior male officers of maltreatment, the Nigerian Army has announced plans to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations. The soldier, stationed in Lagos State, claimed in the video that she had been subjected to oppression since her posting to Cantonment Medical Centre, Ojo, Lagos, in 2022, alleging sexual advances refusal as the root cause.

Identified as Col. IB Abdulkareem, Col. GS Ogor, and Brig. Gen. IB Solebo, the accused officers were implicated in a range of misconduct, including unjust confinement, eviction, unwarranted psychiatric hospitalization, and the freezing of her account without salary since February 2023.

Maj. Gen. Nwachukwu Onyema, the Director of Army Public Relations, released a statement on Friday addressing the situation. He emphasized the gravity of the allegations and assured the public that the Army, as a disciplined force, would conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine the veracity of the claims.

Contrary to the assertions in the video, Onyema highlighted that the soldier had not exhausted established procedures for seeking redress within the Nigerian Army. He underscored the existence of Human Rights and Gender Desks at Army Headquarters and throughout NA formations, urging personnel to utilize these channels to address grievances.

Onyema emphasized the professionalism and self-regulation of the Nigerian Army, stating, “The NA remains a professional force that self-regulates and conducts its activities in adherence to established rules and ethics while upholding the highest standards of discipline amongst personnel.”

He concluded the statement by reassuring the public that appropriate actions would be taken based on the findings of the investigation, urging restraint from hasty judgments and emphasizing the Army’s commitment to serving the nation with honor and integrity.