Netizens demand Justice For 13-year-Old Girl Who Was Allegedly Defiled By Uncle, Son

NETIZENS, especially X users, have revived #justiceforochanya, a case widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s gravest miscarriages of justice.

Ochanya was repeatedly defiled since she was eight years old by her guardian, Mr Andrew and Her Son till she died at age 13.

She reportedly gave up the ghost in October 2018 due to health complications resulting from prolonged sexual abuse by her guardian, Andrew Ogbuja.

Reports had it that Andrew Ogbuja is a senior lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic, and his son, Victor Ogbuja, is final-year student at the Federal University of Agriculture.

According to sources, Ochanya, a Junior Secondary School (J.S.S 01) student at Federal Government Girls’ College, Gboko, was sent to live with her aunt, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, and her family in Ugbokolo, Benue State, at age five to access better education, as her village lacked adequate schools.

Her parents agreed, hoping for a brighter future for her.

The abuse reportedly began when Ochanya was eight years old and continued for five years, involving both vaginal and anal assault.

This led to severe medical issues, including Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF), urinary and fecal incontinence, and other complications.

Ochanya disclosed the abuse to her mother and others, recounting how Victor started abusing her first, and later Andrew joined after scolding his son. Despite medical interventions, including treatment at the Ultimate Care Hospital Otukpo, Ochanya died on October 17, 2018, at Benue State University Teaching Hospital.

The case sparked widespread outrage in Nigeria, with protests by civil society groups, women’s organizations, and students demanding justice.

Andrew Ogbuja was arrested and arraigned in 2018 on charges of criminal conspiracy, molest, and culpable homicide.

However, in April 2022, a Benue State High Court acquitted him, citing conflicting autopsy reports and insufficient evidence, such as the lack of medical examination to match his specimen with findings.

Victor Ogbuja, his son, fled and remains at large, with civil society groups and Ochanya’s family issuing ultimatums to the police for his arrest as late as 2020.

Netizens alleged that even though there were proofs, the perpetrators are still roaming freely.

Some argued that even though the perpetrators were not so influential they still got away with the crime.