Seven years after Ochanya’s death, Nigerians have renew calls for justice as fugitive rapist remains at large.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that seven years after the tragic death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje, who died from complications linked to years of sexual abuse, Nigerians have reignited calls for justice, demanding the arrest of Victor Ogbuja, a key suspect who has been on the run since 2018.
Victor, the son of Andrew Ogbuja, a lecturer at the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, was accused alongside his father of serially raping Ochanya, their relative, leading to her illness and eventual death.
Court Acquittal and Conviction Divide Opinions
In April 2022, the Benue State High Court in Makurdi acquitted Mr Andrew Ogbuja of rape and manslaughter charges. However, on the same day, the Federal High Court in Makurdi convicted his wife, Mrs Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, who was Ochanya’s guardian, for negligence and failure to protect the minor from repeated abuse.
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Mrs Ogbuja was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment without an option of fine, a ruling later upheld by the Court of Appeal, which described her conduct as “heinous and devoid of sympathy.”
Justice Hassan Muslim, who led the appellate panel, ruled that Mrs Ogbuja’s failure to protect Ochanya despite warnings from her own daughter, Winifred Ogbuja, amounted to a “crime of omission.”
Victor Still on the Run
While Mrs Ogbuja served her sentence and her husband was cleared, Victor Ogbuja remains a fugitive. Declared wanted by police in 2018, reports suggest he may now be living in Lagos under a new identity and pursuing a music career, though this claim has not been independently verified.
Despite an active arrest warrant, he has never been brought to trial.
Renewed Outrage Online
Following Ochanya’s seventh death anniversary in October 2025, Nigerians on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok have reignited demands for justice using the hashtag #JusticeForOchanya.
Prominent voices, including social media influencer Tunde Ednut, joined the campaign, decrying the failure to apprehend Victor:
“A father and son allegedly abused a little girl until she died. This is sad. Ochanya must get justice,” he wrote on Instagram, in a post that drew over 34,000 likes and 4,000 comments.
The renewed outrage also targeted Winifred Ogbuja (@Winifunds on X), daughter of the acquitted lecturer. Although not accused of any crime, she faced intense online criticism before deactivating her account earlier this week.
Activists Demand Case Reopening
Child-rights advocate Betty Abah condemned the justice system’s failure to bring all perpetrators to book, urging the Benue State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Ministries of Justice and Women Affairs to reopen the investigation.
“Reports suggest Victor is in Lagos, living freely despite an arrest warrant. It’s time to reopen this case and ensure that even in death, Ochanya gets justice,” Abah wrote on Facebook.
She also called for the case to serve as a catalyst for stronger child-protection laws and better response to sexual-abuse cases across Nigeria.
How Ochanya’s Tragedy Began
Ochanya left her rural home in Ogene-Amejo, Benue State, to live with the Ogbujas in Ugbokolo, hoping for a better education. Instead, she allegedly endured five years of sexual abuse from both father and son.
She was later hospitalised at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, where doctors diagnosed her with Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF), a severe complication of prolonged sexual assault.
On October 17, 2018, she died from the condition, sparking nationwide protests and international outrage.
Justice Still Elusive
Despite years of advocacy and partial convictions, the central suspect in the case, Victor Ogbuja remains free. As Nigerians once again demand accountability, activists say justice for Ochanya will only be complete when every accused person faces trial.
