PRESS STATEMENT ON THE UNTIMELY DEMISE OF OUR STUDENT, OCHANYA OCHIGA (AGED 13 YEARS)*

Revised……

*FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIRLS’ COLLEGE GBOKO OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION*

*PRESS STATEMENT ON THE UNTIMELY DEMISE OF OUR STUDENT, OCHANYA OCHIGA (AGED 13 YEARS)*

TO:
-THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
-THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
-THE SENATE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA
-THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTIVES, NIGERIA
-THE GOVERNOR OF BENUE STATE
-THE MINISTER, THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
-THE MINISTER, THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS
-THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF THE NIGERIA POLICE
-THE CONTROLLER-GENERAL OF THE NIGERIA SECURITY AND CIVIL DEFENCE CORPS
-THE WOMAN LEADER OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS
-NIGERIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
-NATIONAL AGENCY FOR THE PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC IN PERSONS
-PUBLIC COMPLAINTS COMMISSION
-SAVE THE CHILDREN, NIGERIA
-ALL RELEVANT AGENCIES
-ALL RELEVANT CIVIL SOCIETIES
-THE COMMISSIONER, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, BENUE STATE
-THE COMMISSIONER, MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS, BENUE STATE
-THE VICE CHANCELLOR, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE BENUE STATE
-THE RECTOR, BENUE STATE POLYTECHNIC UGBOKOLO
-THE PRINCIPAL, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIRLS’ COLLEGE GBOKO
-UNITY SCHOOLS OLD STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
-ALL WOMEN ORGANISATIONS
-ALL INTERNATIONAL BODIES FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN
-LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS MEDIA
-THE ENTIRE PEOPLE OF NIGERIA

We bring to your attention the incident of the death of 13-year old Ochanya Ochiga; a student of Federal Government Girls’ College Gboko in Benue State. She died less than 48 hours ago, at Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi. The autopsy report revealed that the young lady died from severe health complications, including the dreaded Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF); which arose from a six-year series of vaginal and sodomic abuse from members of her extended family. In other words, from age 8 till her final collapse at age 13, Ochanya had been serially abused in both nether regions by her aunt’s husband and son; namely Messrs Andrew Ogbuja and Victor Inalegwu Ogbuja, respectively. Mr. Andrew Ogbuja is a member of staff at Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo, whilst his son Victor Inalegwu Ogbuja is a final year student at the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi.

This is an outrage to FGGC Gboko, all female children, all women, Benue State, Nigeria and indeed the World. The advent of social media has brought to the fore the raging menace of child abuse and rape within our homes, communities, and nations. It is time that social media is also used to stop this menace.

As a body, we demand that the perpetrators, indeed murderers, be called to justice and severely punished. Messrs Andrew Ogbuja and Victor Inalegwu Ogbuja should be arrested for homicide and charged with first degree murder. They should be made to feel the full wrath of Lady Justice. They should bear the brunt of the Law in quantum measures. It was not enough for them to hurt young Ochanya from age 8; they had to repeat the barbaric sessions within a 6-year period. We can only describe such tendencies as animalistic, with special apologies to animals. As such, they deserve jungle justice. No mercy.

This is our demand. No mercy. No plea bargains. Swift justice.

We have not forgotten the supposed aunt and actual guardian of Ochanya, Mrs. Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja. We are ashamed that a woman was within the perimeter of this series and yet remained silent or unmoved. We also demand that Lady Justice lets her wrath loose in that quarter.

Apart from this press release, FGGC GBOKO OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION will be heavily involved in a protest march being planned by various bodies, in honour of our deceased sister, Ochanya; within the next 48hours. All members and the general public are called upon to look out for updates and come out en masse.

*NATIONAL PRESIDENT*

*NATIONAL SECRETARY*