It has been seven painful years since 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje died in 2018 following prolonged medical complications (including VVF) linked to years of alleged sexual abuse while living with relatives in Benue State. Today, Nigerians are once again raising their voices, demanding justice they believe has been denied.
Ochanya had been sent away from her hometown because her community had no functioning school. Instead of the education promised, she reportedly endured abuse throughout her childhood, leading to severe health damage and ultimately her death. Her story has become a symbol of how poverty, lack of access to education, and systemic failure leave children dangerously unprotected.
Anger has resurfaced nationwide because the two individuals accused of abusing her, her uncle and his son, were discharged and acquitted. One was acquitted by the Federal High Court in 2021 and the other later cleared by the Benue State High Court. Both walked free.
The rulings, which prosecutors and child rights activists have described as deeply disappointing, triggered a fresh wave of outrage. Many Nigerians believe the justice system failed a child who could not defend herself and who suffered until her final breath.
Despite the court decisions, the public pressure has not ended. Civil society groups have vowed to continue pushing for justice and accountability, urging legal authorities to explore all possible avenues including appeals and a reinvestigation. They argue that the dismissal of the charges sends a dangerous message to perpetrators of violence against children.
In recent days, renewed protests and online campaigns under #JusticeForOchanya have spread rapidly. Marchers hold her photos high, insisting her case must not be forgotten, and that without consequences, the system will continue to fail vulnerable children. Her name remains a rallying cry for stronger laws, better protection structures, and real efforts to keep children safe in guardianship homes.
For many families in rural Nigeria, sending a child to live with relatives is not a luxury, it is the only chance for education. That same vulnerability is what stripped Ochanya of her safety. Her story forces the country to confront a bitter truth, too many minors are exposed to exploitation because poverty leaves them nowhere else to turn.
Seven years have passed, yet the pain remains raw. Advocates say the pursuit of justice for Ochanya is not merely about one case. It is a demand that Nigeria must never again allow a child in the name of seeking education to face abuse, silence, and death.
The public continues to call for answers. They want accountability. They want reforms. And above all, they want Ochanya’s memory to mark a turning point, not a forgotten tragedy.
Justice delayed may already feel like justice denied. But Nigerians are not stopping. The world is still watching.
