The family of late Ochanya Ogbanje has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to arrest Victor Ogbuja, who allegedly raped their daughter and fled seven years ago.

In a petition titled “Petition on police refusal to arrest and prosecute Victor Ogbuja over the gruesome rape to death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje after seven years,” the family accused the police of failing to act despite public outrage over the case.

“We write to bring to your knowledge the blatant refusal of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to apprehend and prosecute a fleeing suspected rapist, Victor Ogbuja, seven long years after he absconded,” the petition signed by their lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, stated.

Ochanya, a student of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Gboko, Benue State, died on October 17, 2018, from health complications caused by years of sexual abuse allegedly by Ogbuja while living with his family.

The family urged the IGP to declare him wanted, saying he is reportedly living in Lagos, and called for the case file to be recalled from the Benue Police Command for fresh investigation.
They also alleged continued threats from the suspect’s family and demanded police protection.

“The failure to arrest Victor Ogbuja portrays Nigeria... as a lawless country where the rights of vulnerable people are trampled upon at will by powerful people,” the family said.

Ochanya’s guardian, Felicia Ogbuja, was earlier sentenced to five months in prison for negligence that enabled the abuse.