Why Justice Must Not Go Cold
November 30by Ruhamah Ifere
Across the world, “cold cases” represent a haunting reminder of unfinished justice. A cold case is a serious criminal investigation; often rape, murder, or a missing person that remains unsolved for years due to weak leads or insufficient evidence. Though inactive, such cases can be reopened when new breakthroughs emerge, especially through DNA technology or fresh eyewitness accounts.
In Nigeria, discussions around cold cases resonate strongly with the tragic case of Ochanya Ogbanje who was repeatedly raped by her cousin and her aunt’s husband for years, where conflicting medical reports and lack of DNA matching contributed to the court’s inability to secure key convictions. Under Nigerian law(Criminal code and child’s rights Act), rape and defilement carry severe penalties which is life imprisonment for defilement of a child under 13, yet many cases falter due to poor investigations, weak forensic systems, and delayed justice. Although the law allows sexual offences to be prosecuted years later, systemic failures often leave survivors without closure.
Internationally, cold cases have been successfully cracked decades later. The murder of 75-year-old Louisa Dunne in the UK was solved after 58 years through advanced DNA profiling. The case of Muriel Drinkwater (1946) was also revived thanks to forensic innovation showing that no case is ever truly “too old” for justice.
As we observe the #16DaysActivism campaign (November 25–December 10), these stories remind us why activism matters. Beyond awareness, the campaign demands stronger forensic capacity, survivor-centered justice systems, and legal reforms to ensure sexual violence is never minimized or forgotten. Cold cases should not remain cold because justice delayed is injustice compounded.
The observance of #16DaysActivism is a call to reopen forgotten files, strengthen institutions, and insist that every survivor deserves closure and every perpetrator deserves accountability.
