The Ogbanje family from Ogene-Amejo in Okpowu Local Government of Benue State, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest Victor Ogbuja, who allegedly raped their teenage daughter, Ochanya Ogbanje, and then fled.
The appeal is contained in a petition to the inspector-general 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’s petition, shared with the press on Monday, calls on the inspector-general of police to declare Ogbuja wanted, include him on its watchlist, and organize a manhunt for his arrest.
Despite widespread outrage over the circumstances surrounding Ochanya’s death, the family reports that the police have yet to arrest the suspect or seek justice, even after seven years.
“We write to inform you of the Nigeria Police Force’s blatant refusal to apprehend and prosecute Victor Ogbuja, a suspect who has been on the run for seven years after he was publicly known to have repeatedly raped Ochanya Ogbanje.
“Ochanya, then a student at the Federal Government Girls’ College in Gboko, Benue, died on October 17, 2018, from health issues related to years of sustained rape at the hands of the Ogbuja family.
“We urge the I-G to declare Ogbuja wanted, add him to the watchlist, and initiate a manhunt,” the petition, authored by the family’s lawyer Inibehe Effiong, states.
The family also claimed that the suspect is living in Lagos and demanded that the case file be transferred from the Benue State Police Command to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, for further investigation.
Additionally, the family alleges that the Ogbuja family has continued to insult, threaten, and intimidate them, blaming them for their son’s disappearance.
They requested police protection for their members due to ongoing threats from the Ogbuja family, who are said to have influential and political connections.
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“It is our firm belief that the police’s apparent refusal to arrest Victor Ogbuja for prosecution constitutes a grave injustice, not only to Ochanya, but also endangers other girls and women unaware of his predatory history.
“Moreover, this failure tarnishes Nigeria’s image internationally, portraying the country as lawless, where the rights of vulnerable populations are disregarded by powerful elites.
“Given the renewed calls from Nigerians at home and abroad, the Nigeria Police Force has an opportunity to restore its reputation and reaffirm its role as Nigeria’s primary law enforcement authority,” the statement concluded.
