Seven years after the tragic death of Ochanya Ogbanje, her accused rapists — Andrew Ogbuja and his son, Victor — are still walking free. The 13-year-old passed away on October 17, 2018, from complications of vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF), an abnormal opening that allows continuous, involuntary urine leakage through the vagina instead of the urethra. According to Healthline, sexual trauma and violence are some of the causes of VVF.

Ochanya’s nightmare started when she left Ogene-Amejo village in the Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, where she lived with her family. She relocated to stay with her aunt, Felicia Ogbuja (the wife of Andrew and mother of Victor), to gain access to basic education. She was reportedly only five years old at the time. When she turned eight, Victor — Felicia and Andrew’s son — began sexually assaulting her. His sister, Winifred, eventually caught him molesting the girl and reported it to their parents, who scolded him. But the abuse continued. Andrew, a lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic and a Catholic Knight of Saint Mulumba, joined in raping Ochanya. The assaults persisted until she was 13 and fell ill from the resulting complications.

The faces of Andrew and Victor Ogbuja, accused in Ochanya Ogbanje’s tragic abuse, must stay in the spotlight until justice is served. #justiceforochanya pic.twitter.com/KicJ8Su6Gz

— Bugzy✊🏾 (@BigBugzyy) October 24, 2025

After Ochanya’s death, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) charged Andrew Ogbuja with rape and culpable homicide. But in April 2022, the Benue State High Court acquitted him because the prosecution failed to establish the case beyond a reasonable doubt. An autopsy from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Makurdi concluded that Ochanya died of “natural causes,” while a report from the Police Forensic Laboratory attributed her death to diseases related to sexual abuse. Presiding Judge Augustine Ityonyiman stated that he could not determine which of the conflicting reports was truthful. 

The acquittal came nearly four years after Ochanya’s death and after her father, Michael Ogbanje, accused Ogbuja of using the courts to threaten his family. “The Andrew Ogbuja that killed my daughter has planned with the court to threaten the life of the family; because of this, we cannot even sleep in our house now. We go to our neighbouring house [to] sleep,” Ogbanje told Al Jazeera. 

Nigerians are demanding #JusticeForOchanya, a 13-year-old who was allegedly raped repeatedly by her uncle and his son. pic.twitter.com/u1JeKZGhyn

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 7, 2018

While Ogbuja was discharged by the court and reportedly remains a lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic, his wife, Felicia, was sentenced to five months in prison for failing to protect the minor in her care. Their son, Victor — who allegedly raped Ochanya for five years — was briefly arrested in 2018 but jumped bail and remains at large. 

The case has gained renewed attention in recent days after X users outed influencer Winifred Ogbuja (@Winifunds) as a member of the accused rapists’ family. 

Although Winifred reportedly notified her mother of Ochanya’s abuse, she did not report it to the police or other relevant authorities. In August 2024, she posted content blaming minors for their own assault by adults, suggesting they deserved it because of what they wore: “If a minor is raped I don’t [think] perpetrators are at fault… some of them wear revealing dress and are always pushing themselves to the perpetrators neck especially if they stay together,” Winifred, the daughter of Andrew and sister of Victor, wrote. 

The revelation of Winifred’s ties to the accused rapists has sparked outrage over her alleged complicity. Amid swift and heated backlash, she has locked her X account and has yet to address the criticisms. 

In a 2019 interview, Rose Abah — mother of the deceased rape victim — also accused Ogbuja, Winifred’s father, of making several attempts to rape her other daughter, 26-year-old Esther Ameh. Ameh recorded the then-51-year-old man soliciting sex from her in April 2018, when she visited the Ogbujas’ home to care for her ailing sister.

Last Friday, October 17, 2025, marked the seventh anniversary of Ochanya’s tragic death, and many Nigerians on social media are still calling for justice.

Nigeria as a country is so useless.

It coddles rap!sts and sexual assaulters. Quite ironic for a country filled with the most religious yet most morally bankrupt people.

As a woman in Nigeria, you’re by default not safe. This country and the law is not on your side. I hate it… https://t.co/wgVrJEUn7T

— ADAEZE👩‍🍳👸-THE BLUEPRINT/ODOGWU OF BANANA BREAD (@adaezennaji_) October 25, 2025

See ehh, I'm certain that Winifred father assaulted girls in that school he is lecturing, you people need to speak up o. Honestly, if that man has ever assaulted you, speak up now abeg. https://t.co/EGgDBUDqsn

— Nwa Eyen (@babypeekor) October 24, 2025

Justice for Ochanya Ogbanje. Her rapists should be k!lled https://t.co/K6AkBpqE1K

— Faree Ferrari (@faree_for_real) October 24, 2025

I pray this ochanya’s case does not die down again.
Imagine seeking justice for 7 years while the perpetrators walk freely and live their best lives???

— FEYISAYO❤️ (@Feyisparkles) October 25, 2025

The aunt was arrested. But, somehow the men who raped her to death never saw the prison walls.

What's in the air in Nigeria??? https://t.co/VHffNKR24i

— Kam (@Mz_Kammyy) October 24, 2025

I still have that nasty feeling in my throat I had when read about little Ochanya 7 years ago. She would have been 20 today💔
She was 8 when her cousin started raping her, after he was exposed his father joined in the continuous rape. She died from VVF complications at 13. https://t.co/ixuXC8ivNg

— Kiki Mordi (@kikimordi) October 24, 2025