ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has joined renewed calls for justice in the case of 13-year-old Ochanya Elizabeth Ogbanje, whose death in 2018 after years of alleged sexual abuse sparked national outrage and the viral #JusticeForOchanya movement.
In a post shared Thursday on her official Facebook page, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed shock that the two primary suspects — Andrew Ogbuja, a lecturer at Benue State Polytechnic, and his son Victor — had reportedly been discharged and acquitted by a Benue State court.
“Seven years ago, the heart-wrenching story of little Ochanya devastated me,” she wrote. “I thought the perpetrators were in jail. Alas, they were discharged and acquitted.”
She urged Ochanya’s family to submit a formal petition to her office at Room 2:05, Senate Wing, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, promising to raise the matter with her Senate colleagues. “For our children, I stand for justice for Ochanya,” she added, crediting social media advocate #miss_natural1 for reigniting attention to the case.
The senator’s statement has sparked a wave of emotional responses from Nigerians across social media and civil society:
Aisha Yesufu, activist: “Ochanya’s story is a painful reminder of how our justice system fails the most vulnerable. We must not let this go.”
Dr. Uche Eze, pediatrician: “This case broke me as a mother and a doctor. The trauma she endured is unimaginable. Justice must be served.”
@Miss_Natural1, advocate: “Thank you, Senator Natasha, for listening. We’ve been screaming for years. Ochanya deserves more than silence.”
John Ogbodo, lawyer: “The acquittal is a legal tragedy. If this case can be dismissed, what hope do other victims have?”
Ngozi Okafor, teacher: “I tell my students about Ochanya. Her story is a warning, a lesson, and now, a call to action.”
@BenueWatch, local watchdog group: “We demand a full review of the case. Benue cannot be silent while justice is denied.”
Fatima Ibrahim, student: “I was 13 when Ochanya died. I’m 20 now, and I still cry when I think of her. She was just a girl.
The #JusticeForOchanya campaign continues to trend across platforms, with many calling for legislative reform and accountability. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s involvement has reignited hope that the case may be revisited at the federal level.
As one user posted simply: “We will not forget.”
