Human rights activists have demanded for justice over the death of a 13-year-old Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbaje, the teenager who was raped to death by father and brother
It was gathered that having consistently raped the student of Federal Government Girls’ College, Gboko since she was 9 to age 13, she battled Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) and other health complications at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi .
It was alleged that her father, Andrew Ogboja, Head of Department, Catering and Hotel Management at the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, Benue State, and his son, Victor Inalegwu Ogboja, a final year student of Animal Production at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi are responsible for the barbaric act
Condemning the act and reacting to the unfortunate news of Ochanya’s demise, the Federal Government Girls’ College Gboko Old Students’ Association has planned to stage a protest over the ugly incident.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 22,2018, the association called on the federal government and the relevant authorities to bring the suspect and his son to book.
A part of the statement read;
“This is an outrage to FGGC Gboko, all female children, all women, Benue State, Nigeria and indeed the World. The advent of social media has brought to the fore the raging menace of child abuse and rape within our homes, communities, and nations. It is time that social media is also used to stop this menace.
“As a body, we demand that the perpetrators, indeed murderers, be called to justice and severely punished. Mr. Andrew Ogbuja and Victor Inalegwu Ogbuja should be arrested for homicide and charged with first degree murder. They should be made to feel the full wrath of Lady Justice. They should bear the brunt of the Law in quantum measures. It was not enough for them to hurt young Ochanya from age 8; they had to repeat the barbaric sessions within a 6-year period. We can only describe such tendencies as animalistic, with special apologies to animals. As such, they deserve jungle justice. No mercy.”
The Councilor Representing Eke Ward in Benue, Hon Dan Atayi, also called on all Benue sons and daughters as well as well-meaning Nigerians, particularly the women folks to join their voices so the culprits would be forced to face the law.
He said;
“The act is a devilish omen that has appeared and happened in our land of birth! We condemn it in totality, we detest it with fierce rejection and we call on our trado-cultural Custodians (Och’Idoma, The Ede of Edumoga, the Idoga of Ugbokolo, the Ad’Okpokwu) to perform a cleansing rite of these ugly menace before the fate of the spirits of vengeance visit our land.
“The struggle for justice for the late young Ochanya should encompass beyond politics and religious affiliations. What is right in our society should be pressured to be in equity regardless of how highly connected we are. We call on the government of Benue State, Okpokwu and all notable stakeholders across party lines to demonstrate and show concern against this alienation and barbaric act.
“We eschew bitterness and animosity; we eschew witch hunts and negative suspicions as we drive this quest for justice for the soul of Ochanya Elizabeth Ogbanje to rest in peace,”
Also adding her voice, human rights activist and blogger, Mimi Atedze, insisted that the perpetrators must be brought to book without delay.
She said, “The serial rapists must be punished for this act…the Child’s Right act 2003 states clearly that “Nobody should engage in any unlawful sexual intercourse with a child. #JusticeForOchanya.”
On her part, human rights activist and Executive director, Cee-Hope Nigeria, Betty Abah condemn the release of the suspect without the family’s consent.
According to her, “As at the last hearing on Sept. 24, the accused was not in court. He had been released from prison without the knowledge of the victim’s family, even when he wasn’t granted bail at the earlier sitting.
“His co-accused son, Victor Ogbuja, a student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, remains on the run.
Rape by father and son, anal and vagina, started when she went to stay with the family at age 8 (wife is her aunt) in order to be able to go to school.
“She died October 18, 2018 at the General Hospital, Otukpo from the complications and was buried Oct. 21, 2018 in her village in Benue State, following an autopsy.
“Now, the question: who released the accused from prison custody in Makurdi without the court’s and girl’s family knowledge, and when he had not been granted bail?”
However, the Benue State Police Command has revealed that the case was no longer in its custody.
The state PRO, Moses Yamu;
“This case has been on for long, why are they trying to politicize it? We did out job by arresting the suspect and subsequently charged him to a law court. If the said suspect was granted bail, the question should be directed to the judge and not the police.