Some widows of Nigerian soldiers have accused the military authorities of not paying attention to their welfare.
While saying some of them suffered sexual harassment while processing their husbands’ benefits, they demanded the urgent intervention of the Federal Government.
The Coordinator of the Military Widows’ Association in Kebbi State, Asma’u Noma, lamented that a substantial number of military widows were without support.
According to her, about 30 per cent of the women whose husbands paid the supreme price while serving the country had yet to access their life insurance and death benefits.
“A lot of them are wallowing in poverty and hunger,” she said.
Asma’u, who confirmed allegations of sexual harassment against some widows when they travel to military headquarters to process their entitlements, said some officers demanded bribes before facilitating the payments.
She noted that many widows had been left destitute, unable to access their husbands’ gratuities, pensions, or welfare support, while also caring for children alone.
She said some of the widows regretted marrying soldiers due to poor welfare and the premature deaths of their spouses.
“Some of them regret marrying soldiers because of the ill-treatment they have received after their husbands’ untimely deaths. If the government continues to turn a blind eye to the plight of military widows, no parent will allow their son to join the army,” she said.
A widow, Rashida Hamajoda, whose husband was allegedly killed by Birom militants, said an officer approached her at the military headquarters in Abuja, where she had gone to process her husband’s benefits some years ago.
According to Hamajoda, the officer demanded bribes or sexual favours before he would assist her with the documentation and payment processes.
She lamented that she was tossed around before locating the right unit, where her late husband’s benefits would be paid.
“The man (military officer) asked me in Pigin English: ‘madam you go shake body. I asked him to explain. He said I was not a small girl, I should understand,” Hamajoda stated.
She added that the man asked her to pay “in cash or in kind,” otherwise she would wait till eternity.
“At that moment, I flatly declined his request, and I left in tears. Then I was still breastfeeding one of my babies, so amid hunger and tiredness, I gave up the process and I went back home to inform my husband’s brothers. It was his brother who finished up the process because I vowed not to go back to Abuja again,” she said.
Another widow, who identified herself as Hannatu, shared a similar experience, which she said happened many years ago.
Though her husband died from sickness, Hannatu said she had a horrible experience while processing his benefits.
According to her, she begged for transport to go to Abuja to process his death benefits, only to be faced with the demand for bribe and sexual favour by military officers.
“I was a very attractive woman then, so very few of the officers in charge asked me for money. Many of them, whose names I cannot remember, demanded to sleep with me because of my looks.
“I had to threaten them with a lawsuit before they asked me to come after three months,” she said.
On her second visit, Hannatu disclosed that she went with her grown-up son and with a note from a retired Army general.
“That was when I was attended to, and I was able to conclude the documentation and return home, only to be paid years later.
“I don’t want to talk about it, and I will never wish my son or any young man to join the Nigerian Army. The thought of my experience made me sick,” Hannatu added.
The Pioneer Secretary-General of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Debo Adeniran, raised concerns over the alleged sexual harassment of widows.
He urged the government and military leadership to take decisive action to address the issues, ensuring that military personnel and their families were protected from exploitation.
The Army spokesperson, Lt. Col. Onyechi Anele, demanded further details of the widows’ allegations and their contacts.
She promised to support them after verifying their claims. (PUNCH)
