A former nurse with the Nigerian Army, Matilda Anighoro, has accused senior military officers of subjecting her to torture, intimidation, and unlawful detention after she allegedly refused persistent sexual advances from a top commander.
Anighoro, who served in the Army Medical Corps, said her ordeal began at the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, where she was posted.
In a petition to military authorities, she alleged that a senior officer, General S.O. Okoigi, repeatedly pressured her to enter into a sexual relationship demands which she said she consistently rejected.
According to her, the refusal marked the beginning of what she described as a coordinated campaign of harassment. She claimed she was threatened with punitive postings, denied access to senior officials, and subjected to various forms of punishment aimed at breaking her resistance.
She alleged that she was detained in a guardroom for over two weeks under harsh conditions, where she was denied basic freedoms and forced into strenuous labour.
During this period, she said she endured degrading treatment and was repeatedly humiliated by superior officers.
Anighoro said the sustained harassment, intimidation, and alleged abuse ultimately forced her to resign from the military.
She explained that after months of pressure and what she described as a “witch-hunt,” she could no longer continue her service under such conditions and opted to voluntarily withdraw.
Despite submitting her resignation in November 2023, she claimed the situation did not improve. Instead, she alleged that the harassment intensified, with increased hostility, tougher duties, and continued punitive actions before her eventual discharge was approved in September 2024.
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She also accused some officers of physical abuse during punishment exercises, stating that she was pushed, assaulted, and treated unfairly throughout her service period.
Beyond the alleged abuse, Anighoro claimed attempts were made to damage her military record. Despite her voluntary discharge being approved, she said efforts were made to downgrade her rank from Corporal to Private and alter official documentation.
She lamented that she has yet to receive her financial entitlements, including gratuity and pension benefits, further compounding her challenges after leaving the military.
However, General Okoigi has denied all allegations, maintaining that he never made any inappropriate advances toward Anighoro. He described her as an indisciplined soldier who frequently abandoned her duties and exhibited misconduct.
According to him, any disciplinary measures taken against her were based strictly on reports from her immediate commanders.
He also claimed that she failed to honour invitations from military police investigating the matter.
Now a civilian, Anighoro is calling on relevant authorities and the public to intervene, seeking justice and the restoration of her rank and entitlements.
Her allegations have sparked renewed concerns about accountability, abuse of power, and the need for stronger protection systems within the Nigerian military.
“I only wanted to serve and do my duty,” she said, “but my life was made a living hell.”
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