Matilda Omonaiye/
A wave of outrage has swept through social media as Nigerians revive the #JusticeForOchanya campaign, demanding justice for 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje, who died in 2018 after years of sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by her uncle, Andrew Ogbuja, and his son, Victor, in Benue State.
Between October 29 and 30, the hashtag trended widely on X, amassing over 1.4 million engagements as users called for the reopening of the case and comprehensive child protection reforms.
Ochanya, who had been sent to live with her uncle for schooling, reportedly suffered repeated sexual assaults from the age of eight. The abuse resulted in vesicovaginal fistula, a severe medical condition that left her incontinent, leading to complications that caused her death at the National Hospital, Abuja.
In 2021, the Benue State High Court acquitted Andrew Ogbuja of rape and culpable homicide, citing insufficient evidence, while his son Victor has remained at large.
The ruling sparked public outrage and renewed calls for accountability from human rights advocates, including the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the National Human Rights Commission, and child rights groups.
Pop star Tiwa Savage joined the growing chorus of voices demanding justice, writing on X, “My heart is heavy. A young girl suffered unthinkable pain at the hands of those meant to protect her and lost her life because of it. We can’t stay silent. We can’t continue to hide behind family titles and tradition. She deserves justice. Every child deserves safety.”
Many Nigerians echoed her sentiments, condemning the justice system’s failure to secure convictions and urging the Ministry of Women Affairs to intervene.
Ochanya’s case had previously led to the passage of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act in Benue State in 2019, yet activists say enforcement remains weak.
The latest resurgence of the campaign reflects growing public frustration over systemic lapses in protecting minors from sexual violence.
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