Outrage erupted on social media following the circulation of multiple videos on Thursday, depicting men ripping apart the clothes of young women and groping them during a festival in the Oruamudhu community of Ozoro, Isoko North LGA, Delta State. One particularly distressing clip showed a young lady crying and clutching her torn clothing while being violently groped. Reports indicated that women were prohibited from venturing outdoors from 12 PM to the next day during the festival, which some social media users claimed youths exploited to turn the event into a “rape festival,” citing warnings circulated among students of Southern Delta University, Ozoro, for female students to stay indoors.

The incidents drew immediate and strong condemnation from various quarters. Bright Edafe, Delta Police Spokesperson, initially described the acts as “alarming, disgusting, and embarrassing,” confirming that the Delta Police Commissioner, CP Aina Adesola, had ordered an investigation and urged witnesses to come forward. He emphasized that no custom or tradition supersedes the rights of citizens. Subsequently, the Delta police arrested Omorede Sunday, identified as the community head and “chief organiser” of the festival, along with four other suspects from Oramudu quarters in Ozoro. CP Adesola ordered their transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and vowed that all involved would be brought to justice.

The Delta State Government also condemned the reported harassment and assault, describing such acts as “barbaric, heinous and unacceptable.” Charles Aniagwu, the state Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, stated that the government was deeply disturbed by reports of women being harassed and, in some cases, sexually assaulted under the guise of festival activities. He asserted that cultural celebrations must never serve as a cover for criminality and called on security agencies to swiftly investigate, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible. Aniagwu reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting the rights and safety of all citizens, especially women, and warned of zero tolerance for gender-based violence, urging community leaders to implement measures to prevent recurrence.

In response to the growing outrage, the leadership of Ozoro community, represented by President-General Berkley Asiafa and Secretary-General Obaro Egware, issued a statement on Friday. They clarified that the viral videos portrayed their Alue-Do festival in a negative light. The statement explained that the Alue-Do Festival, celebrated by the Uruamudhu Community, is an ancient “festival of fertility,” traditionally involving symbolic practices like playfully dragging and pouring sand on married individuals without children, believed to invoke fertility. However, the leaders admitted that “some youths misinterpreted and misapplied the cultural practice in a negative and unacceptable manner, leading to the harassment of some young women.”

Crucially, the Ozoro community leadership countered widespread reports of rape, stating, “No incidents of rape were recorded. The situation involved the harassment of two young women by individuals who took advantage of the occasion to act irresponsibly.” They strongly condemned any form of harassment or misconduct, affirming it is not part of their culture, and confirmed that they had contacted security agencies to bring the situation under control and commence investigations. The community urged the public to disregard false reports and refrain from spreading misinformation that could tarnish their cultural heritage, while assuring that appropriate steps would be taken to address the actions of those involved and ensure future celebrations are conducted respectfully.