The family of the late 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje from Ogene-Amejo in Okpowu Local Government Area, Benue State, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to arrest one Victor Ogbuja, who allegedly violated their daughter and fled justice.
In a petition to the IGP titled “Petition on Police Refusal to Arrest and Prosecute Victor Ogbuja Over the Death of 13-Year-Old Ochanya Ogbanje After Seven Years,” the family accused the Nigeria Police Force of failing to apprehend and prosecute the suspect despite years of public outcry.
The petition, signed by the family’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, called on the IGP to declare Ogbuja wanted, place him on a watchlist, and launch a nationwide search for his arrest.
According to the family, the police’s prolonged silence and inaction have deepened their pain and denied them justice.
“Ochanya, then a junior secondary school student of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Gboko, Benue, passed away on October 17, 2018, due to severe health complications linked to prolonged abuse,” the petition stated.
The family further alleged that the suspect is currently hiding in Lagos and requested that the IGP recall the case file from the Benue State Police Command to the Force Headquarters for renewed investigation.
They also accused the suspect’s family of intimidation and threats, claiming that they continue to harass them for pursuing justice. The family therefore appealed for police protection, describing the Ogbuja family as influential and politically connected.
“It is our belief that the police’s delay in arresting Victor Ogbuja amounts to a grave injustice, not only against late Ochanya but also poses a danger to other vulnerable individuals,” the family added.
They said the failure to act sends a negative message to the international community about Nigeria’s commitment to justice and the protection of vulnerable citizens.
The petition urged the police to take decisive action and redeem its image by ensuring accountability in the case.
Ochanya’s ordeal began when she was taken from her village at the age of five to live with a relative, Mrs. Felicia Ogbuja, in Ugbokolo, for better educational opportunities. She later developed severe health issues linked to long-term mistreatment and passed away in 2018.
A medical report from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital confirmed that she suffered from worsening health complications before her death.
While Mrs. Felicia Ogbuja was later convicted and sentenced to five months imprisonment for negligence, the prime suspect, Victor Ogbuja, remains at large seven years later.
