A social media user has been sharing the struggles of his widowed mother, who worked as a midwife under a difficult and amoral commandant. For 21 years, she served at the Armed Forces Specialist Hospital in Kano on a temporary basis, hoping to transition to a permanent position. According to the OP (original poster, for the very few who don’t know what it stands for), her boss, the reprehensible commandant, constantly pressured her for a sexual relationship. Because she consistently refused, he retaliated by punishing her in different ways, including reducing her double shifts to single shifts. He ultimately fired her on the fifth of this month. She is reportedly still owed her salary for July.
Where does one even begin? The unethical practice of keeping someone in a temporary position for 21 years without offering the benefits of a permanent role, the unjust firing without pay after so many years, and the abuse of power to demand sexual favours and punish a subordinate for refusing—each of these actions is terrible. However, the alleged sexual harassment by her superior is particularly egregious, especially considering there is supposedly an existing sexual assault case involving the commandant. The OP’s mother appears to have no recourse to justice.
Having no other options, she is resigned, per the OP, to leaving it all in “God’s hands.” Many on social media have commented that it is the Nigerian way to ask God to intervene. This tendency is frustrating but understandable. When there is a lack of a clear and accessible pathway for reporting criminal misconduct and little hope of getting justice even when one does find a way to report, there is nothing to do but hope that a higher power fights your battles for you. It is only natural.
While I was at university, there was a professor who was alleged to be inappropriate with students and who threatened male students who dated female students he liked. No one ever reported him, instead, they waited for the heavens to intervene. When justice seems out of reach, people rely on what some refer to as karma. This creates a culture where abuse continues unchecked, and those in power are rarely held accountable. Impunity left unchecked breeds more impunity, and the victims are the ones who suffer.
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The combination of fear, lack of legal protections and societal norms that encourage deference to anyone in a senior position — regardless of how they conduct themselves — leaves victims feeling powerless and isolated. That’s not the kind of society we should want. Sadly, it’s the one we have at the moment.
There is a dire need for systemic reforms, both within institutions and in the broader legal framework, to ensure that victims of harassment and abuse have the support and protection they need to come forward. This includes creating accessible reporting mechanisms, ensuring transparency in investigations, and holding those in power accountable for their actions.
Public awareness/education and advocacy are crucial in bringing about these changes. The social media user’s willingness to share his mother’s story is a powerful step in shining a light on these issues, as is the willingness of others to share similar stories. Oppression thrives in silence. However, this is only the beginning. Where we need to go from here is to apply collective and sustained pressure on institutions and authorities to punish all criminals.
Students must know that when they report unscrupulous professors, action will be taken. Vulnerable women like the OP’s mother must be confident that when they report superiors like the commandant, he will be punished, and they, the victims, will not be penalised in any way.
It’s also important for communities to support victims and stand in solidarity with them, offering both emotional support and help in getting justice. To their credit, some commenters on the Twitter post offered to find pro bono attorneys to take on the case. Unfortunately, according to the OP, his mother isn’t ready to accept the help because she doesn’t believe she will win.
Personally, I hope that despite how daunting and steep the road to justice appears to be, that she allows folks willing to help her, hold her hands and guide her up that road. As for that commandant, I wish him an infestation of lice on every part of his body where he has hair.
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