Ozoro Festival: Women, girls raped by youths in broad daylight

A traditional festival in Ozoro, Delta State, turned into a nightmare for women girls with reports of day-light rape and assaults.

Ironically, the festival was held traditionally to seek blessing for women looking for fruit of the womb.

“Many of those raped were married women who came to the festival to pray for fertility. They will forever live with the scar” a local chief told Irohinoodua

Irohinoodua was informed that no fewer than 55 women and girls suffered one form of sexual abuse or the other, including rape during the festival.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with calls for justice and accountability.

Some of the victims were raped, attacked by youths during the ‘Alue-Do’ festival, a fertility rite aimed at invoking blessings for couples experiencing difficulty with child and held periodically in the community.

Videos of the incident showed young women being chased, stripped, and molested in broad daylight, sparking widespread condemnation.

The Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Anthony Ogbogbo, condemned the incident, saying “I have never heard that a festival is celebrated with girls being harassed, sexually molested or raped in my community.”

The Delta State Government has ordered an investigation into the incident, describing it as “barbaric and unacceptable”.

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested several suspects, including a community leader, and vowed to bring all perpetrators to justice.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, directed that all suspects be arrested and prosecuted.

“No cultural or traditional practice can justify or excuse sexual violence in any form,” she said.

The National Association of Nigerian Students has called for a thorough investigation and justice for the victims. The group has also directed its Joint Campus Council in Delta State to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

The incident highlights the need for greater protection of women’s rights and safety in Nigeria.

Citizens are demanding that perpetrators be brought to justice and that measures be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.