Authorities initiate investigation after Delta denounces attacks on females at Ozoro celebration

The Delta State Government has vehemently denounced the reported cases of harassment and sexual assault of women during a festival in Ozoro, characterizing these acts as utterly barbaric and completely unacceptable.

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In a statement released on Friday, Commissioner for Works and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, urged security agencies to launch an investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.

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Aniagwu emphasized that the police and other security agencies must identify and apprehend the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, stressing that no individual or group should be allowed to use a festival as a pretext for engaging in criminal behavior.

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He reaffirmed the state government's commitment to safeguarding the rights and safety of all citizens, with a particular focus on protecting women and other vulnerable groups from harm.

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Aniagwu also appealed to community leaders and organizers of cultural festivals across the state to implement adequate security measures to protect participants and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

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The government reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based violence, warning that anyone found guilty would face the full force of the law.

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Reacting to the incident, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, described the development as "alarming, disgusting, and embarrassing" after viewing one of the viral videos.

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Edafe stated that the Commissioner of Police, CP Aina Adesola, has ordered an investigation into the incident, and the command categorically condemns the actions, emphasizing that no custom or tradition supersedes the rights of citizens.

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CP Aina Adesola urged the public to remain calm, assuring that those responsible for the barbaric act would be arrested and brought to justice.

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Edafe also appealed to witnesses with useful information to assist the police in their ongoing investigation into the incident.

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According to Vanguard, the alleged assault of young women during a festival in Oruamudhu community, Ozoro, in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, has sparked widespread outrage.

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Videos circulating on social media show men forcefully tearing the clothes of young women and assaulting them, with one clip depicting a young woman crying and struggling to cover herself as she was being harassed by a group of men.