By Akpokona Omafuaire
The fertility festival, Ozoro, Delta State was expected to be an interesting cultural gathering but ended up in chaos, agony and trauma after some women were reportedly assaulted during the celebrations. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation. In a swift response, the Delta State Government banned the festival and described the incident as “deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” stressing that such acts have no place in any society, let alone during a cultural festival meant to unite people. The government assured the public that steps were being taken to prevent a recurrence, including a review of security arrangements at public events.
Meanwhile, one of the victims, Miss Ezeugo Ijeoma Rosemary, a 300 level student of Library and Information Science, Southern Delta University Ozoro who is still traumatized from the incident narrated her harrowing experience to Saturday Vanguard on phone.
She said, “I am from Imo State but reside in Warri. On that day, at about 5pm I went to pick up my power bank unknown to me that they were holding their festival because it was not announced. Immediately I came down from the bike, a lot of boys from different directions started shouting that they should hold me. ‘Hold her, hold her, na girl she be’, they said, so I tried to escape but they swooped on me like bees. The crowd was much and they started harassing me, pulling my clothes. They eventually tore my clothes until they stripped me naked. They were manhandling me, pulling my breasts and touching my whole body. They also took my phone. One boy later came to my rescue as I was shouting for help. I was alone and the incident happened at a junction close to my school. The festival was not held at Gwake where I went to charge my power bank.
“I am getting better but feeling pains in my chest and breasts. On Sunday, I was told that the Commissioner of Police wanted to see me, so I went with my dad and our lawyer to Ozoro. At the King’s palace I was questioned and asked to go to A Division to write my statement. I was also asked to list the items that I lost during the incident which I did. The school management has not told me anything but I will be going back to school next month because I am still in trauma”.
However, Ozoro leaders, in a statement signed by the President-General of Ozoro, Chief Berkley Asiafa Ozoro, acknowledged that the event was marred by the misconduct of some youths who misinterpreted and misapplied the cultural practice, leading to the harassment of two young women.
“The situation involved the harassment of two young women by individuals who took advantage of the occasion to act irresponsibly,” the statement read. The leadership of Ozoro kingdom further disclosed that it promptly contacted security agencies, who intervened to restore order and have since commenced investigations into the incident.
While condemning the actions of those involved, the kingdom stressed that harassment and any form of misconduct were not part of its cultural values and would not be tolerated under any circumstance. It also urged members of the public to disregard unverified reports and refrain from spreading misinformation capable of damaging the image of the kingdom’s cultural heritage.
In his reaction, the Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, HRM Anthony Uvietobore Ogbogbo (JP), Ibuka I, condemned the incident in strong terms, stressing that no girl child should be subjected to such an experience. He appreciated the Commissioner of Police for his swift response and professional handling of the matter, as well as the student body for their calm and responsible conduct.
The monarch also commended the State Government for its support and emphasised that all those involved must be arrested and prosecuted. He further directed that no festival or gathering should be held in the Kingdom without prior recourse to the Palace for proper guidance, to prevent a recurrence.
Also speaking, Hon. (Elder) Godwin Ogorugba, Chairman Isoko North LGA, described the incident as unfortunate, clarifying that there is no such thing as a “rape festival” in Ozoro but a cultural event that was mismanaged and hijacked by criminal elements.
He noted that key stakeholders were not duly informed before the event and assured that the State Government would support the Police to ensure that all the perpetrators were brought to justice.
Similarly, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe while speaking on Channels Television clarified the true position of what transpired.
According to him, “among all the girls that were interviewed, no one said she was raped and we’ve not had any official reports that any woman was raped. It was a festival that was conducted by the Chief Priest to pray for barren women, to enable them have children. That was the intention, however, for reasons best known to them, the traditional ruler for Ozoro kingdom was not informed, the Student Union was not even informed, because they know it’s a student community, so they were supposed to inform the school management. They did not do that, and they did not inform the police, and that is why the chief priest is presently in our custody, because his negligence has led to this embarrassment, and this sexual assault on these innocent girls, and that’s why they are presently in custody. However, it was not a rape festival.”
The Delta State Government, in a statement issued on Friday by the State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, described the incident as barbaric and unacceptable. He said the government was deeply disturbed by reports of women being harassed and, in some cases, sexually assaulted under the guise of festival activities.
Aniagwu stressed that “the state government frowns at any act that violates the dignity and rights of women”, noting that cultural celebrations must never be used as a cover for criminality.
“The Delta State Government strongly condemns the harassment of ladies during the Ozoro Festival. Such barbaric acts are totally unacceptable and have no place in our society,” he said.
Similarly, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, in a statement signed by the Country Director, AAN, Dr Andrew Mamedu, described the alleged action as “disturbing incidents of violence against women and girls” saying it “reflects a grave failure to guarantee safety and dignity in a communal space.”
Women groups and civil society organizations have also joined the chorus of condemnation. For them, the incident goes beyond a single event. It reflects a broader struggle for safety and respect in public spaces.
Lady Ejiro Umukoro, Human Rights Advocate, Founder & President, LightRay Media on her part, said, “when a tradition can be easily deployed as a weapon of violence and assault, it is important that the custodians of the said culture or tradition must begin to either review with a view to discarding parts of the culture that’s no longer relevant or replace the narrative of that culture to be adapted to modern laws, which have consequences.
“Any culture, mindset, ideology, beliefs, teachings or doctrines that has hidden disregard for women or subjugation of women must be abolished faster than the speed of light. Women give birth to men and to nations. There’s nothing on earth more sacred than that. And that is why no woman is inferior to any man, nor for any man for that matter to assume superiority over any girl or woman.” she added.
Community leaders and traditional authorities also expressed shock and disappointment, describing the behavior as a violation of cultural values. “Our festivals are meant to celebrate life and unity, not to instill fear,” one elder said. “This is not who we are. This is a wake-up call,” said a local advocate. “We must confront the attitudes that allow such acts to happen and demand accountability at every level.”
Parents and families remain deeply unsettled
Some families say they are reconsidering participation in future festivals as they are worried about the safety of their daughters and loved ones. “We used to look forward to this every year,” Oghale, a resident, shared quietly. “Now, there’s fear where there used to be joy.”
Amid the anger, there is also determination. Stakeholders are calling for concrete reforms—better crowd control, increased security presence, and clearer consequences for misconduct.
Prof. A.C.E Abuza, a law lecturer at the Delta State University, Oleh Campus on his part frowned at the Delta State Government for banning the Aluedhor Festival
According to him, “I understand that the Delta State Government has banned the festival of fertility of the Uruadhumo community of Ozoro following what took place in Ozoro last Thursday. Is that our problem? The answer is no. Our problems include lack of food, unemployment, abnormal taxes imposed on our people by the government, rising cost of petroleum products, insecurity and stealing of public funds by public officials. We have a similar feast in my village, Oviri okpe and many Delta communities. The festival should be encouraged, instead of its ban. Now we have many married couples unable to produce children. They should be encouraged to embrace this feast instead of making artificial children or adoption of witches in the name of children.
The Ozoro people were celebrating the feast of fertility, a cultural practice from time immemorial wherein those who are unable to give birth to children are playfully dragged and sand poured on them and it is believed that deities would give them children soonest. A police officer said the ancient tradition is against human rights and barbaric. He must be talking about the human rights of our colonial masters and not our human rights.
The Ovie of Ozoro is a lawyer whom I taught Law. He would not encourage his subjects to act against the law. The Ozoro leadership has denied that rape took place during the feast. What happened was that some young men who seemed to be strangers took advantage of the feast and sexually harassed some girls. The Ozoro leaders quickly called in the Police to arrest them. The Police have arrested five of these miscreants. The Ozoro people and indeed the Isoko people are peaceful and law abiding citizens who would not take laws into their hands. I know this too well as I am Isoko as well. Let us not call a dog a bad name in order to hang it”.
A female indigene who spoke to Vanguard on condition on anonymity said, “historically, the Aluedhor Feast is deeply rooted in fertility rites. It is primarily for women seeking the fruit of the womb. Childless or barren women would traditionally consult the Chief Priest, undergo specific spiritual rites, and in some cases be instructed to return home and be intimate with their husbands within a defined period as part of the process.
“That is the cultural and spiritual context. It is also important to clarify why certain restrictions existed during the festival period. Young girls were traditionally advised not to be outside between midnight and dawn — not because of any fear of human misconduct, but out of reverence for the deity of fertility, whose sacred activities were believed to occur during those hours. This was a spiritual caution, not a cover for criminal behavior.
“During the festival, participants engage in symbolic acts such as dancing in procession and playfully throwing sand at one another. These are ritual expressions that have been practiced for ages. Couples who participate sometimes express mild affection within culturally accepted limits. None of these practices support or justify any form of abuse.
“What appears to have happened this year is a distortion of that tradition. Ozoro, like many towns, has evolved from a quiet rural community into a growing cosmopolitan environment with an influx of non-indigenes. Unfortunately, with that growth comes the presence of misinformed individuals, opportunists, and in some cases, outright criminals. It is these elements — not the culture — that have allegedly twisted the atmosphere of the festival into something it was never meant to be.
“Those who acted outside the bounds of decency and the true intent of the festival have reportedly been identified, arrested, and will face the full weight of the law. That is how a responsible society responds to wrongdoing. But it is completely unjust to take the actions of a few individuals and use them to misrepresent an entire community, malign a long-standing cultural practice, and spread falsehoods across the country.” she added.
As investigations continue, Ozoro stands at a crossroads. The community must grapple not only with what happened but with how to ensure it never happens again. For the women affected, justice cannot come soon enough. For everyone else, the hope is that out of this painful moment will emerge a renewed resolve to protect the dignity and safety of all because a festival, at its heart, should be a place where everyone feels free to celebrate—not a place they must struggle to feel safe.