CELEBRITIES, ACTIVISTS DEMAND JUSTICE FOR LATE OCHANYA OGBANJE AS SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN REIGNITES CASE
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Seven years after the tragic death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje, public outrage has resurfaced online as celebrities, activists, and citizens demand justice for the late minor, whose death in 2018 followed years of sexual abuse.
The renewed campaign, tagged #JusticeForOchanya, trended across X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok, following the seventh anniversary of her death on October 17, 2025. Thousands of posts have called for the arrest of her alleged abusers and a retrial in the case.
Ochanya, from Ogene-Amejo in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, reportedly suffered years of sexual abuse while living with her aunt, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, and her husband, Andrew Ogbuja, a lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo. The abuse, which began when she was eight, led to severe health complications, including vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), before her death in 2018 at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi.
According to an Online reports, the Benue State High Court in 2022 acquitted Andrew Ogbuja, citing insufficient evidence, while his son Victor, who was also accused, has been on the run. Ochanya’s aunt, Felicia, was later sentenced to five months in prison without an option of fine for negligence.
Prominent figures in entertainment and activism have amplified calls for accountability.
Singer Tiwa Savage, in a post to her 10 million X followers, wrote:
“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. She deserves justice. Every child deserves safety.”
Influencer Tunde Ednut urged his 8.7 million Instagram followers to join the campaign, writing:
“She must get justice… PLEASE REPOST IN YOUR OWN WAY ‘JUSTICE FOR OCHANYA’ ON YOUR STORIES!!!”
Activist Aisha Yesufu, co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, revisited her earlier condemnation of Nigeria’s slow justice system, stating that Ochanya’s case represents “a failure to protect the most vulnerable.”
Actress Kim Oprah added:
“Seven years after Ochanya’s tragic death, her accused abuser still walks free. No child should ever endure such horror, and no justice system should ever turn away.”
Kogi senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan also weighed in, saying:
“Seven years ago, the heart-wrenching story of little Ochanya devastated me. I thought the perpetrators were in jail. Alas, they were discharged and acquitted. The family of the late Ochanya Ogbanje should write a petition to me.”
The social media outcry led to a Change.org petition launched on October 25, 2025, demanding a retrial for Andrew Ogbuja and the immediate arrest of Victor, which had already gathered over 10,000 signatures within days.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which had earlier condemned the case’s mishandling in 2018, is now being urged to reopen investigations and ensure justice is served.
Ochanya’s family has reportedly continued to face threats and intimidation for pursuing the case. Her uncle, Mr. Michael Ogbanje, told PUNCH that unknown persons have repeatedly warned them to stop seeking justice, appealing to the Federal Government and the Inspector-General of Police for protection.
“We have been living in fear. But we can’t give up on Ochanya’s case. She deserves justice,” he said.
As the online campaign gains momentum, Nigerians are once again confronting the country’s broader failures in addressing sexual violence and child protection, with many calling Ochanya’s case a litmus test for Nigeria’s justice system.
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