The country has been abuzz for weeks following renewed outrage over the rape and death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje, a case that continues to haunt Nigerians seven years after it was first uncovered.
Despite public outcry and years of advocacy, justice remains elusive, and the men accused of abusing the young girl have walked free.
Ochanya Elizabeth Ogbanje was born in Benue State to a less privileged family. In hopes of giving her a better life, her parents sent her to live with her aunt, Felicia Ogbuja, and her husband, Andrew Ogbuja.
Ochanya was later enrolled at the Federal Government Girls College in Gboko, Benue State, where she was a JSS 1 pupil. Her ordeal began when it was discovered that Andrew Ogbuja and his son, Victor, had been sexually abusing her. When the abuse was reported to her aunt, Felicia, through her daughter Winifred, nothing was done beyond a mild scolding for Victor.
The abuse continued for years, from when Ochanya was 8 until she was 13. As a result, she developed vesicovaginal fistula (VVF),a medical condition caused by an abnormal opening between the bladder and vagina, which leads to uncontrollable urine leakage.
In 2021, a video surfaced showing Ochanya recounting her ordeal and how her aunt refused to seek medical care for her despite her worsening condition. The complications eventually led to her death in 2018.
Following her death, Andrew Ogbuja was charged in court. But in a shocking turn of events, the Benue State High Court in Makurdi acquitted him in April 2022, citing inconsistencies in the autopsy reports and the failure of investigators to conduct a medical examination on the accused.
Victor Ogbuja and his cousin, both alleged to be co-perpetrators, remain at large. Many believe Victor is still in contact with his sister Winifred, who has since faced intense online backlash, leading her to deactivate her social media accounts.
The acquittal of Andrew Ogbuja, a lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic, has left Nigerians furious and questioning the credibility of the country’s legal system. Despite overwhelming medical evidence and recorded statements from the victim, one of the key accused men walked free.
The court’s claims of “inconsistencies” raise serious doubts, especially since other cases have been prosecuted successfully with less evidence. The decision becomes even more questionable considering the conviction of Ochanya’s aunt, Felicia Ogbuja, for reckless endangerment of a minor and omission of duty. The Court of Appeal ruled that her negligence was punishable under Section 344 of the Criminal Code Act. If the aunt could be held accountable, why was her husband, the primary perpetrator, allowed to go unpunished, while his son remains a fugitive?
This case reflects a painful truth about Nigeria’s justice system, one that often fails the most vulnerable. In a country where femicide, child abuse, and early marriage remain persistent issues, Ochanya’s story is a grim reminder of how easily justice can be denied.
Her case is one among many that go unnoticed or unresolved. It highlights the dangers faced by countless young girls without adequate protection or accountability from those meant to care for them. Watching such a horrific act go unpunished not only dishonors Ochanya’s memory but emboldens future predators.
As Nigerians continue to demand justice, the question remains: how many more girls must suffer before the system finally listens?
