Tinubu, Ezekwesili, and NBA Decry Sexual Assaults at Ozoro Festival in Delta State
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former Minister of Education Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have issued strong condemnations of the brutal assaults on women and girls during the Alue-Do Festival in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Council Area of Delta State. They described the incident as barbaric and a severe violation of human dignity, urging immediate action from authorities.
First Lady Expresses Deep Disturbance Over Viral Videos
In a statement released yesterday, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu expressed profound distress after viewing viral videos that showed young girls being subjected to physical and sexual abuse during what should have been a cultural celebration. "I watched the horrific footage emerging from Ozoro, where girls were physically and sexually assaulted and subjected to degrading and inhumane treatment during a community festival," she stated. While acknowledging Nigeria's rich cultural diversity, Tinubu emphasized that no tradition or custom should serve as a pretext for abusing or violating the rights of women and girls.
Ezekwesili Calls for Urgent Arrests and Prosecution
Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, called on law enforcement authorities to urgently arrest and prosecute all individuals identified in the incident. In a statement issued over the weekend, Ezekwesili warned that failure to act decisively could entrench a dangerous culture of impunity, stressing that Nigerians must respond firmly to prevent a recurrence in other parts of the country. The former minister insisted that the situation requires more than routine arrests. She advocated for a transparent accountability process led by the Delta State Government, backed by swift judicial action as a deterrent, and for stronger community intelligence and policing systems nationwide.
NBA Labels Incident a National Disgrace
The Nigerian Bar Association described the incident as a national disgrace and a violation of fundamental human rights. In a statement signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, and Chairperson of the NBA Women Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, the association characterized reports of women being chased, stripped, groped, and publicly humiliated as "horrifying" and "barbaric." The NBA emphasized that such acts, carried out under the guise of cultural celebration, amounted to criminal offences, including assault, sexual violence, and public indecency. They also violated constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, and security, as well as international human rights standards. "No tradition, no custom, no so-called cultural practice can excuse or legitimise the degradation and violation of women. Any practice that permits such cruelty is not a culture. It is criminality," the NBA statement declared. The association called on the Delta State Government and all relevant law enforcement agencies to act swiftly to identify, arrest, and prosecute the perpetrators. It also urged accountability for anyone who aided, enabled, or failed to intervene during the attacks. Community leaders, traditional institutions, and festival organisers were warned to ensure that cultural events reflect dignity, order, and respect for human life, rather than chaos and cruelty.
Police Commissioner Conducts Fact-Finding Visit
Meanwhile, Delta State Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, led a team of senior officers on a fact-finding and confidence-building visit to Ozoro yesterday as investigations into the alleged incident continue. The police chief, accompanied by top management staff of the command, paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of Ozoro Kingdom, HRH Anthony Uvietobore Ogbogbo, during which he briefed the monarch on the progress of the investigation and reaffirmed the command's zero-tolerance stance on sexual and gender-based violence. Adesola also engaged key stakeholders, including the Chairman of Isoko North Local Council Area, Godwin Ogorugba; the President-General of Ozoro Community, Berkley Asiafa; the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Victor Ogechukwu, and the Students' Union Government President of Southern Delta University, Oribelua Precious, among others. He also interacted with some of the victims to gather firsthand accounts and ensure their concerns are addressed.
