NEITIZENS PRESSURE COURT TO RE-OPENS OCHANYA'S CASE.
In the wake of Ochanya's 7th year remembrance, Nigerians took to social media to decry the brutish abuse surrounding her death on the 17th of October, 2018. It was reported that the late Ochanya Ogbanje died of complications from constant forceful penetration and abuse, which exposed her body to Vesicoviginal fistula (VVF), an abnormal condition between the bladder and the vagina, resulting in urine leakage into the vagina. Before her death, Ochanya told her story to news men, revealing that her cousin, and his father had her on hook for several years. One of the alleged culprits, Andrew Ogbuja, was apprehended and taken to court in 2019, while the other fled. However, on April, 28 2022, BBC Pidgin reported that the Benue state High Court presided over by Mr. Ityonyiman, discharged and acquitted Andrew Ogbuja, stating that the police investigators failed to subject the defendant to proper medical examination which could have resonated with the medical reports presented. Nevertheless, in the early hours of November 1st, 2025, following renewed public agitation for justice, the Benue State High Court officially reopened the case, announcing the resumption of a full investigation. The development came after a powerful wave of social media activism that swept across all major platforms, ranging from X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook to Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp. Hashtags calling for justice trended for hours as users reposted old videos, shared emotional stories, and reignited conversations about accountability. Influencers, journalists, and everyday citizens alike joined voices online to demand transparency and swift action. Queen Precious on X tweeted: Justice for Ochanya is Justice for Every Girl. She was only 13 — full of dreams, hope, and innocence — yet her light was dimmed by the very people meant to protect her. For years, she suffered in silence. For years, her cries went unheard. Today, her story reminds us that silence enables abuse and justice delayed is not justice denied. We remember Ochanya Ogbanje, and we demand a Nigeria where every child is safe, every abuser is punished, and no girl suffers in silence again. #protectthegirlchild #Saynotochildmarriage #JusticeForOchanya #EndChildAbuse #ProtectOurGirls This and more overwhelming digital pressure created a nationwide movement that the authorities could no longer ignore, ultimately compelling the court to revisit the matter in pursuit of truth and justice.
Admin | 2025-11-09 16:49:07