The Digest:
Seven years after her death, the cry for Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje echoes louder than ever, as a nation refuses to let her story fade into silence. The #JusticeForOchanya campaign has resurfaced across social media, with Nigerians demanding that the case be reopened and all perpetrators held accountable for the alleged sexual abuse that led to the 13-year-old’s death.
Key Points:
- Ochanya died in 2018 from health complications, including VVF, linked to years of abuse.
- She had lived with her uncle, Andrew Ogbuja, who was tried but acquitted by the court.
- Her aunt, Felicia Ogbuja, received a five-month sentence for negligence.
- The second accused, Victor Ogbuja, was never convicted and remains at large.
- Activists report he may now be in Lagos pursuing a music career.
- Public figures like Hilda Baci are donating to support the legal fight.
- The case highlights persistent gaps in Nigeria’s justice system for abuse victims.
Sources: The Guardian
