The wheels of justice in Nigeria grinds exceedingly slowly and moves in an uncertain manner that it’s easy to forget important cases. After a period of social media outrage, a case tends to fade away into the shadows where it’s forgotten forever.
But we believe these victims deserve to have their names repeated loudly enough until the system delivers them justice.
Deborah Samuel
On May 12, 2022, Deborah Samuel, a Christian student at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was flogged and burnt to death. Her offense? A mob of Muslim extremists accused her of blasphemy for attributing her academic success to Jesus.
The incident sparked social outrage with a trending hashtag, #JusticeforDeborah. Even a certain presidential candidate couldn’t stand for Deborah with his full chest and deleted a tweet that condemned her attackers.
Seven months later, the police are still searching for Deborah’s killers. What could be taking these guys so long?
Uwa Omozuwa
Two years after Uwa Omozuwa, a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), was brutally raped and murdered inside a church, her killers haven’t been sentenced.
The Edo State Police Command arrested Nelson Ogbebor, Akato Valentine, Tina Samuel, Mary Ade, Nosa Osabohien and Collins Ulegbe in connection to her death. However, it’s been nothing but a flurry of court cases and adjournments that seem to lead to nowhere.
Oluwabamise Ayanwola
Ayanwola went missing while returning to Ota from Ajah on February 26, 2022. She had boarded a BRT bus heading to Oshodi. This was before she realised something was off about the driver keeping the bus dark and only admitting four other passengers. She sent WhatsApp voice notes revealing her concerns to her friend. That was the last anyone heard from her until her corpse was discovered a week later.
Months after Ayanwola’s death, the case is still dragging in court. Her suspected killer is the driver of the bus, Andrew Ominikoron, who has pled not guilty to the charges. His court trial continues on January 23, 2023.
Andrew Ominikoron
Their cases may have stopped being the hottest topics in the news, but the least these young women deserve is justice. What’s the Nigerian judicial system waiting for?
