Students, group protest death of 13-year-old Ochanya allegedly raped to death in Benue

STUDENTS under the auspices of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS and members of Concerned stormed major streets of Makurdi, the capital city of Benue to protest the death of a 13-year-old Elizabeth Ochanya who allegedly raped by a lecturer of the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.

The protesters who had earlier gathered at the gate of the State University, Makurdi marched round Wurukum, Low-level round about and terminated at government house.

The protesters who carried placards with various inscriptions; ‘Justice 4 Ochanya,’ There are many Ochanyas in our homes, schools and our neighbourhood, let’s reach out to them, let us protect the children’, among others.

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President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Gideon Obande who expressed their annoyance to the state governor over the alleged rape to death of the 13-year-old Ochanya called on the government to review the justice system to give room for quick dispensation of cases.

Obande further sued for the acceleration of the hearing of the case, stating that they would continue to monitor the case to the end to ensure that Ochanya gets justice even in death.

The NANS president appealed to the Benue Government to immediately relieve Ogbuja of his appointment and should not wait until the case was finally determined.

Mr James Ogbeche who spoke for Concerned Citizens said that Ogbanje needed justice and that was their topmost priority.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom said that he was pained by the demise of Miss Ochanya Ogbanje who was sexually abused for five years by a polytechnic lecturer, Mr Andrew Ogbuja and his son, Victor.

Ortom, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Terwase Orbunde, said that he was saddened by the death of Ogbanje.

”I feel pained because I have daughters. What if it were my daughter? The law must take its cause on this matter,” he said.

The governor said that such a dastardly act must be condemned in its entirety, adding that all the abused people should speak out so that the world would know their plight so that people would step in to arrest the situation.

He advised people against stigmatising the victims of sexual abuse, explaining that if they were stigmatised, most of them would be unwilling to make their cases public.