Child rights advocates and civil society groups on Thursday stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly complex, demanding justice for the late Ochanya Ogbanje and other victims of sexual abuse across the country.
Celebrities have lent their voices to the demand for justice in the unresolved rape case of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje, who died in 2018 from complications linked to prolonged sexual abuse, as social media outrage sparked renewed calls for her alleged abusers’ arrest.
The seventh anniversary of her death on October 17, 2025, ignited the #JusticeForOchanya across X, Instagram, and TikTok, with thousands of posts demanding accountability, per public reactions monitored on X.
The demonstrators, who marched from the Ikeja Under Bridge to the Assembly complex, carried placards bearing inscriptions such as, “Justice for Ochanya,” “Stop Child Molestation,” and “Protect Our Children, Punish Paedophiles.”
Speaking during the protest, the Lagos State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network, Aderonke Oyelakin, said the group, which is an initiative of UNICEF and the Bimbo Odukoya Foundation, took to the streets to demand accountability from authorities handling cases of child abuse.
Oyelakin said, “We are here because we cannot keep silent while children continue to suffer in the hands of abusers. Ochanya is no longer alive, but there are other children out there going through the same horror, and some parents tell them to keep quiet until they die. We are asking which child is next?
“If there are paedophiles among us, they must be fished out. It is painful that perpetrators of sexual violence walk freely while survivors are left with emotional scars that last a lifetime.”
“We are seeking justice for every child, male or female, whose case is on the table of the police, the ministry, or the courts. Do not treat these cases with levity. If someone is found guilty, they must be punished according to the law,” she added.
Also speaking was actress and humanitarian, Sunshine Rossman, who said she joined the protest to lend her voice to the fight against sexual abuse of minors.
Rossman, who is the coordinator of She Foundation, also urged the government to incorporate sex education into school curricula and encourage parents to communicate openly with their children about inappropriate touching.
Rossman said, “I am here today for Ochanya and for all the young girls and boys who are constantly being molested. Many of these perpetrators are people we know, our relatives, friends, and neighbours, yet we cover up for them.
“Nigerians must learn to speak up even when it doesn’t affect them directly. Tomorrow, it could be your daughter or your sister. We must raise our voices and demand action. Many children don’t even know what rape means or how to identify abuse. We must break this cycle by teaching them early and raising our children better.”
The protesters vowed to sustain their advocacy until justice is served and stronger protection systems for children are put in place nationwide.
The Benue State Government recently announced that it had ordered a reopening of the case, following mounting pressure from civil society groups and renewed nationwide calls for justice.
The protest also formed part of a broader nationwide movement demanding accountability for Ochanya’s death and justice for all victims of child sexual abuse in Nigeria.
