Social Media Users Intensify Call for Reopening of Late Ochanya Case

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigerian social media users across X, Facebook, and TikTok have demanded that authorities reopen the case involving 13‑year‑old Miss Ochanya Ogbanje who died from sexual abuse complications from her guardians.

The renewed outrage comes days after Miss Ochanya’s seventh-year death anniversary was held in Abuja.

Nigerians have renewed calls for justice in her case, particularly demanding the arrest of key suspects including Mr Andrew Ogbuja, then lecturer at the Benue State Polytechnic in Ugbokola, and Mr Victor Ogbuja, his son, who are accused of raping the late victim over the years.

Miss Ochanya, a Junior Secondary School student at the Federal Government Girls College, Gboko in Benue State, died on October 17, 2018.

Doctors had diagnosed Ochanya with Vesico‑Vaginal Fistula (VVF), a complication attributed to prolonged sexual abuse.

Initially arrested, Mr Andrew Ogbuja was on April 22, 2022 acquitted of raping and causing the death of Ochanya.

His son at that point was on the run after he got wind of the plan to arrest him by the police in 2018, so he is yet to face trial.

Yet, on the same day, the Federal High Court also in Makurdi, in a separate case, convicted his wife, Mrs Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, who was the direct guardian of Ochanya, for negligence exposing the child to rape.

The federal court jailed Mrs Ochiga-Ogbuja five months without an option of fine for failing to protect the child from her husband, but the state High Court, about the same time, exonerated the man.

Business Post gathered that petition calling for a retail of the case against Andrew Ogbuja has gathered thousands of signatures. Many are also calling for the resumption of the manhunt for Victor Ogbuja.