The family of Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, the 22-year-old University of Benin (UNIBEN) undergraduate brutally raped and murdered inside a church in Benin City, has once again demanded justice, nearly five years after the tragic incident that shocked the nation.
Uwaila, a final-year Microbiology student, was attacked on May 27, 2020, while studying alone at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ikpoba Hill, Benin City.
According to reports, she was sexually assaulted and repeatedly struck on the head with a fire extinguisher by her attackers, leaving her critically injured. She was later discovered unconscious in a pool of blood by a church security guard and rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
Despite efforts by medical personnel, she succumbed to her injuries three days later, on May 30, 2020.
During a recent remembrance prayer held at her graveside, members of the Omozuwa family voiced their frustration over what they described as prolonged delays and repeated adjournments in the court proceedings related to the case.
A family representative said the slow pace of justice has deepened their pain, noting that years after losing their daughter and sister in such a horrifying manner, accountability remains out of reach.
They appealed to the Edo State Government, security agencies, and the judiciary to ensure the case is concluded swiftly and those responsible are brought to justice.
The family also called on Nigerians, civil society groups, and human rights advocates to continue speaking out against gender-based violence, stressing that justice for Uwaila would not only honor her memory but also serve as a deterrent to future crimes.
Uwaila’s death sparked nationwide outrage in 2020 and renewed conversations about the safety of women and girls, even in places of worship.
For her family, however, the fight remains personal — a quest for closure, justice, and assurance that such a tragedy will never be repeated.
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