Group wants Ochanya’s assailants prosecuted, Leah Sharibu released

Catalyst for Global Peace and Justice Initiative (CPJ) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Andrew Ogbuja, and his son, Victor, who allegedly raped 13-year-old Elizabeth Ochanya to death in Benue State.

According to reports, she was repeatedly raped by the 52-year-old lecturer in Benue State Polytechnic (her uncle) and his son for five years.

On October 18, 2018, she died of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and other health complications at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.

The group led by the coordinator, Abraham Aiyedogbon, staged a peaceful protest through some streets in Calabar at weekend wielding placards with inscriptions like “We call for speedy execution of justice”, “CPJ says Leah Sharibu must not die”, “CPJ committed to advocacy, social justice and good democratic process”, called for the highest level of punishment for rapists in the country to be visited on the suspects.

In an earlier briefing with some newsmen at the Realm of Glory Church in Calabar, Aiyedogbon had said: “We are joining other human right groups, civil society organisations and other advocacy groups, and we are in solidarity with everyone in Nigeria saying there must be justice for Ochanya and other people in the country suffering any kind of injustice. On this particular matter, the perpetrators must be brought to book.

“There must be the highest form of punishment for any rapist. Everybody should rise and stand against rapists. Nobody should directly or indirectly excuse any rapist for any reason at all. Everybody must condemn rape. There is no ground on which it must be acceptable.”