Rape is a type of sexual assault and unlawful sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration against a person's consent carried out by coercion, physical force, under threat of injury or when the person is unconscious. Rape cases has been on the increase lately even with #me too movement which went viral in October 2017 as a hashtag used on social media after the sexual misconduct of Harvey Weinstein in the United States. However, this heinous crime never abated but has continued to be on the increase.
Nigeria is not left out in the stories of sexual abuse and assault as the case of 13 year old Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje came to light. She was allegedly molested and sodomised by a man and his son for more than 3 years. As result of damages caused to her internal organs, she battled Vesico Vaginal Fistula(VVF) consequently incontinence and other health complications at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi before giving up to the ghost on 17th October, 2018 at General Hospital, Otukpo, all in Benue State.
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| Photo from Punch Newspaper by Abdulfatai Ayobami Ibrahim, 20th October, 2018 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156922537219365&set=a.118998854364&type=3&theater |
The alleged peverts happen to be her aunt's randy husband in the name of Mr. Andrew Ogbuja, a 51 year old Catholic Knight of St. Mulumba of 3rd degree who is a Head of the Department of Cathering and Hotel management at Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo together with his rapist son, Victor Ogbuja, 22 year old student of Animal Production at Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State.
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| Andrew Ogbuja, Catholic Knight of St. Mulumba of 3rd degree |
Ochanya as she was fondly called, was very intelligent and when secured admission with Federal Government College Gboko in Benue State; she believed that staying with her aunt could help her realise her educational dreams since her mother is late and her father since remarried. But little did she know she was walking into predators' den. Ochanya was brought by her aunt to live with her in Ugbokolo at age 8 and not quite long her son Victor raped her. His sister who happened to be on the scene reported the incidence to the rest of the family. Their father reprimanded his son but hardly did they know that he went behind closed doors to rape the little girl. Due to her deteriorating heath condition, she would frequently take ill, got bedridden for 2 months and couldn't resume school.
On seeing her deplorable health conditions, a care giver who runs an Orphanage in Otukpo took her to Benue State University Teaching Hospital in June, 2018. And this was where it was discovered that she has been abused sexually through both her anus and vagina which on long term has caused uncontrollable defecation and passing of urine. After further interrogation, she revealed how long the assault has been going on and how she was threatened with death if she tells anyone. She also explained that sometimes she was drugged which made her not very conscious of what happened.
The case has since been reported to Police Headquarters in Makurdi, the man arrested and case charged to court. At the court, he was remanded pending the next adjournment in September which was further adjourned till the 4th of November, 2018 but the accused has jumped bail even when he was not granted bail, he was released from the prison without the consent of victim's family with his son still at large.
So many questions on my mind where is our judicial system?, What of our collective responsibilities; where was Ochanya's aunt when all these sexual molestation and assault were happening in her own home; right under her nose. Is it that she wants to keep her marriage therefore could not speak against her husband's and son's atrocities? Where is our moral conscience? I bring this story to the world as a voice for OCHANYA because there are other girls facing this terrible situation today in our society with nobody to stand up for them. I hope there will be JUSTICE FOR OCHANYA.
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| https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10215391318268531&set=a.10200444392164720&type=3&theater |
Nigerian Judicial System
In Nigeria, numerous legislations criminalise rape as a felony with life imprisonment, however Benue State is yet to adopt the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Child Rights Act 2003 and Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 which provide more expansive protections for the victims of sexual abuse and defilement. I hope Ochanya gets justice even at death because this will be a new dawn in fight against rape and sexual abuse in Nigeria.
Societal Roles
Our society must also play its role to make sure this sexual abuse and defilement epidemic does not continue in Nigeria.
1. As a nation, we must stand up and condemn this abominable act. Citizens must speak up against
this heinous crime and should not allow silence to continue.
this heinous crime and should not allow silence to continue.
2. There is need for comprehensive sex education to be provided both by the parents and the schools.
Whatever you don't teach your children, somebody else will do it and may be with different twist
in a negative way therefore teach them yourself before somebody else does. I call on all parents
to take action; as soon as children can make signs and talk, start sex education which is a very
crucial aspect of child care.
Whatever you don't teach your children, somebody else will do it and may be with different twist
in a negative way therefore teach them yourself before somebody else does. I call on all parents
to take action; as soon as children can make signs and talk, start sex education which is a very
crucial aspect of child care.
3. Parents should encourage their children and wards to speak up when they are facing any kind of
abuse by creating an enabling environment for dialogue. Build an open trusting relationship by
letting them know that they can confide in you. Stop silence around sex and sexuality because
silence is sexual abuser's friend. We live in a hyper-sexual society that exposes sexual imagery
therefore needs to talk about it. Culture of silence and shame around sex creates a breeding ground
for child sexual abuse.
4. Teach your children to recognise inappropriate touching such as "secret touch" which are not good
and such act should be reported to you immediately. Let your children and wards know that their
private parts such penis, vagina, breasts and buttocks should not to be toyed with and they should
not toy with someone else's own. A lady was a able to find out that her brother in-law was abusing
her 3-year daughter sexually through a simple question: Did somebody touch your "wee wee"? On
this occasion, when the question was asked and she said "yes". On further interrogation, she said
her uncle. Quickly the couple sent the man packing. Never dismiss your children's claims because
the adult involved is valued member of society. Trust your child first before any adult.
abuse by creating an enabling environment for dialogue. Build an open trusting relationship by
letting them know that they can confide in you. Stop silence around sex and sexuality because
silence is sexual abuser's friend. We live in a hyper-sexual society that exposes sexual imagery
therefore needs to talk about it. Culture of silence and shame around sex creates a breeding ground
for child sexual abuse.
4. Teach your children to recognise inappropriate touching such as "secret touch" which are not good
and such act should be reported to you immediately. Let your children and wards know that their
private parts such penis, vagina, breasts and buttocks should not to be toyed with and they should
not toy with someone else's own. A lady was a able to find out that her brother in-law was abusing
her 3-year daughter sexually through a simple question: Did somebody touch your "wee wee"? On
this occasion, when the question was asked and she said "yes". On further interrogation, she said
her uncle. Quickly the couple sent the man packing. Never dismiss your children's claims because
the adult involved is valued member of society. Trust your child first before any adult.
5. Nigerian health system needs to provide free psychological therapy to the victims of sexual abuse
and molestation.
and molestation.
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