Seven years after the tragic death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje, her family has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over what they describe as the “blatant refusal” of the Nigeria Police Force to arrest one of the key suspects, Victor Ogbuja.
In a petition dated November 3, 2025, and signed by human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, the family accused the police of neglecting their statutory duty to bring Victor—who absconded in 2018—to justice.
The document stated that Victor and his father, Andrew Ogbuja, allegedly subjected Ochanya to years of sexual abuse while she lived with them in Ugbokolo, Benue State, leading to severe medical complications and her death in October 2018.
“The police’s continued failure to apprehend Victor Ogbuja is a grave act of injustice and poses a danger to other girls and women who may fall victim to his predatory behaviour,” the petition read in part.
The family urged the IGP to declare Victor wanted, recall the case file from the Benue State Police Command to the Force Headquarters, and ensure the protection of Ochanya’s relatives, who have reportedly faced threats from the Ogbuja family.
A medical report from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital confirmed that Ochanya suffered faecal and urinary incontinence caused by the prolonged abuse.
Effiong condemned the police’s inaction, warning that it “portrays Nigeria as a lawless country where the rights of vulnerable people are trampled upon by powerful individuals.”
