By Onoja Baba, Nigeria
The Delta State Government and Police Command have strongly condemned the alleged sexual harassment and assault of women during the annual Ozoro Festival in Isoko North Local Government Area, describing the acts as barbaric, unacceptable, and a gross violation of human rights.
Videos circulating online since Thursday, showed groups of young men reportedly tearing women’s clothes, molesting them, and subjecting victims to various forms of abuse during the traditional event, sparking widespread public outrage and calls for justice under the hashtag #StopRapingWomen.
In a swift response, Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information Charles Aniagwu issued a statement on Friday condemning the incidents and urging security agencies to investigate thoroughly. “No individual or group should be allowed to hide under the guise of a festival to perpetrate criminal activities,” Aniagwu said, assuring residents of the state government’s commitment to protecting women and vulnerable groups. He called on festival organisers and community leaders statewide to implement robust security measures to prevent future occurrences and reiterated zero tolerance for gender-based violence, warning that perpetrators would face the full weight of the law.
The Delta State Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police Aina Adesola, launched an immediate investigation following the viral videos and arrested five suspects, including the community head and chief organiser of the festival, Chief Omorede Sunday, along with four others from Oramudu quarters in Ozoro.
Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe announced the arrests on X on Friday, stating that the Commissioner had ordered their transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further action.
“Anyone involved will be arrested and brought to justice,” Edafe declared, describing the incident as “alarming, disgusting and embarrassing” and stressing that no custom or tradition supersedes citizens’ rights.
The arrests came amid growing public condemnation on social media, where users questioned how long such alleged abuses had persisted under the pretext of culture and demanded an end to practices that violate women’s dignity.
While some reports suggested possible rape incidents, these claims remain unconfirmed pending police investigation.
Authorities have appealed for witnesses and victims to come forward with information to aid the probe, as the state government and police work to ensure accountability and restore public confidence in the protection of women duri
ng cultural events.
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