Seven years after the tragic death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje, Nigerians are once again demanding justice over what many describe as one of the most heartbreaking child abuse cases in the country’s history.
Ochanya died on October 17, 2018, in Gboko, Benue State, after suffering years of alleged sexual assault at the hands of her guardians — Andrew and Felicia Ogbuja — and their son, Victor Ogbuja. Medical reports linked her death to complications from vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF), resulting from repeated abuse.
The case resurfaced this week following renewed public outrage and social media campaigns under the hashtag #JusticeForOchanya. Nigerians online are calling on the government to reopen the investigation and ensure that all those responsible face justice.
According to Premium Times, despite court proceedings that led to the acquittal of Andrew Ogbuja on charges of rape and culpable homicide in 2022, many Nigerians remain dissatisfied with the outcome. His wife, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, was convicted of negligence and sentenced to five months’ imprisonment for failing to protect the child. However, the key suspect — their son, Victor Ogbuja — has remained at large since 2018. (Premium Times, Independent NG)
Ochanya’s family has appealed to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police to intervene and ensure Victor’s arrest. Speaking to reporters, the victim’s brother, John Ameh, said:
“It’s quite traumatising; we’ve been re-traumatised by the renewed call for justice in Ochanya’s case. For seven years, the police have refused to apprehend the principal perpetrator of such a heinous crime.” (Premium Times)
Civil society groups and women’s rights advocates have joined the outcry, urging authorities to address what they describe as systemic failures in Nigeria’s justice and child protection systems. The outrage has also reignited discussions about the country’s slow judicial process and the lack of accountability in cases involving child sexual abuse.
For many Nigerians, Ochanya’s story has become a symbol of how vulnerable children continue to be failed by institutions meant to protect them — and why justice delayed remains justice denied.
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