Justice for Ochanya: 7 Years On, Foundation Renews Defiant Call for Action

Enugu, November 1, 2025 – The Kunie Foundation, an Enugu-based advocacy group, has renewed its powerful call for Justice for Ochanya, seven years after the 13-year-old schoolgirl died following years of sexual abuse in Benue State.

In a statement issued in Enugu on Friday, the Foundation’s Communications Manager, Mr. Uchenna Igboeme, expressed outrage that justice for Ochanya Ogbanje remains elusive, despite national outcry and multiple court proceedings.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ochanya, a Junior Secondary School student of the Federal Government Girls College, Gboko, died on October 17, 2018, from complications arising from prolonged sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by her cousin, Victor Ogbuja, and his father, Andrew Ogbuja. Justice for Ochanya

Igboeme described the case as “a chilling reminder of systemic failure” that continues to deny vulnerable girls’ protection and justice across Nigeria.

“Ochanya, a 13-year-old schoolgirl, suffered prolonged sexual abuse at the hands of those who were meant to protect her, yet seven years after her death, justice remains painfully delayed,” he lamented.

He said that as an organization dedicated to co-creating sustainable futures for women and children, Kunie Foundation was deeply disturbed by the slow pace of legal proceedings and the culture of impunity surrounding sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) – preventing Justice for Ochanya.

“Every day justice is delayed, another girl is silenced, and another family is left heartbroken,” Igboeme said.

He called for urgent reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s child protection systems and ensure strict enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act).

“At Kunie Foundation, our work focuses on advocacy, research, and community-led interventions that protect vulnerable children, empower women, and dismantle the barriers that perpetuate inequality and abuse,” he added.

Igboeme urged the Benue State Government, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to act decisively and bring the perpetrators to justice without further delay.

“Justice for Ochanya is not just about her – it’s about protecting every Nigerian child from such horror. Silence and inaction are forms of complicity we can no longer afford,” he said.

He called on the media, civil society groups, and concerned citizens to continue amplifying Ochanya’s story as a rallying cry for accountability and reform.

“May Ochanya’s soul continue to rest in peace, and may her death awaken our collective conscience to protect every girl child across Nigeria,” he prayed.

In April 2022, the Benue High Court discharged and acquitted the accused persons on a four-count charge of rape, citing insufficient evidence. Justice Augustine Ityonyiman noted that police investigators failed to conduct a medical examination to link Andrew Ogbuja with the findings in the autopsy reports.

The judgment also revealed inconsistencies between the two autopsy results – one from the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, which stated that Ochanya died of natural causes, and another from the Nigeria Police Forensic Laboratory, Lagos, which linked her death to complications from sexual abuse.

For related advocacy efforts, visit Kunie Foundation or follow ongoing updates on GMT News.

November 1, 2025

The Kebbi Abduction of the State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Muhammad Sama’ila-Bagudo, has been confirmed by the Kebbi State Police Command. The lawmaker was kidnapped by suspected bandits in Bagudo Local Government Area on Friday night.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Nafi’u Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.

According to the statement, the Kebbi Abduction occurred around 8:20 p.m. when armed men stormed Bagudo town and kidnapped the Deputy Speaker shortly after observing Isha’i prayer on his way home.

Abubakar said that the command had immediately deployed a joint team of police tactical units, military personnel, and vigilantes to track down the abductors and rescue the lawmaker safely.

“The joint team is currently combing the bandits’ routes and surrounding forests to ensure the Deputy Speaker’s safe rescue and the arrest of those behind the Kebbi Abduction,” Abubakar stated.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bello Sani, had reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

“The CP has urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting the police and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state,” the PPRO said.

The Kebbi Abduction has heightened public concern over rising insecurity in the northwest region, prompting renewed calls for stronger counter-banditry operations and community cooperation with security agencies. Visit GMTNewsng for more news

October 31, 2025

The NNPP Defection to APC in Kano State has seen no fewer than 650 members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) across Gobirawa Ward in Dala Local Government Area and parts of Fagge and Ungoggo LGAs.

The defectors, who came in groups under different leadership structures, were formally received by the Managing Director of the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Rabiu Bichi.

Bichi welcomed the new members, describing the NNPP Defection to APC as a clear sign of confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and the APC’s commitment to fairness, inclusiveness, and democratic dividends.

He highlighted the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the students’ loan scheme, agricultural reforms, and youth and women empowerment initiatives, as key drivers of the NNPP Defection to APC movement.

Bichi added that his agency is working with the Bank of Agriculture to provide soft loans to farmers to boost food security and support rural livelihoods. He assured the defectors of equal rights and privileges with existing APC members, reaffirming the party’s dedication to fairness, equity, and national development.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Alhaji Ahmad Gobirawa said the NNPP Defection to APC was motivated by the visible progress made under President Tinubu’s administration in less than two years in office.

He stated that the move would further strengthen the APC’s support base in Kano and across northern Nigeria.

The event, which drew party stalwarts, community leaders, and youth groups, was hailed as a major political milestone for the APC in Kano, underscoring its renewed grassroots mobilization efforts across the state.

Political observers described the NNPP Defection to APC as a significant boost for the ruling party ahead of future elections, reflecting growing confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership and the APC’s governance record. Visit http://gmtnewsng.com for more news.