Outcry at Delta Festival: Isoko Community, Iyovwaye, and ActionAid Call for Accountability in Ozoro Sexual Assault Cases Involving Minors

Rape and molestation have been unequivocally condemned as crimes, not cultural practices, following the emergence of disturbing viral videos from Ozoro, in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, which appear to show groups of youths harassing and assaulting women and girls during a recent cultural festival.

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The footage, which has sparked widespread outrage across the nation, captures the alleged perpetrators chasing, harassing, and molesting women in public spaces, with some victims visibly distraught and seeking help.

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Condemning the incident, the Chairman of Isoko Development Union, IDU, Prof Chris Akpitu, the Founder of Deacon Chris Iyovwaye Foundation, Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, the Chairman of Isoko North Local Government Area, Prince Godwin Ogorugba, and Action Aid Nigeria, AAN, have all denounced the actions of the perpetrators, with Ogorugba vowing to apprehend and prosecute those responsible.

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Deacon Chris Iyovwaye described the incident as barbaric, shameful, and unacceptable, emphasizing that no tradition or festival can justify criminality or the violation of human dignity, and stressed that law enforcement agencies have already initiated investigations into the matter.

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Iyovwaye emphasized that rape and molestation are crimes, not culture, and that no society that values humanity and progress can tolerate such lawlessness, highlighting the need for immediate action to be taken against the perpetrators.

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The cleric called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved, as well as a thorough investigation to ensure justice for the victims, and advocated for stronger supervision during festivals and the reorientation of youths towards discipline and respect.

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According to Iyovwaye, festivals should celebrate cultural heritage, not provide avenues for violence and abuse, and the dignity of women must never be compromised under any circumstance, emphasizing the need for traditional rulers, community leaders, and parents to take decisive steps to prevent such incidents from recurring.

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ActionAid Nigeria also condemned the incidents of violence against women and girls, describing them as disturbing, and warned that such actions must never be trivialized, justified, or explained away under any circumstance.

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Dr Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, stated that the incident reflects a grave failure to guarantee safety and dignity in a communal space, and emphasized that the reality remains that women and girls were subjected to abuse in full public view, demanding accountability.

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Mamedu warned that the incident is not isolated, but rather points to deeper systemic issues of gender-based violence, where harmful norms, silence, and weak enforcement create conditions that allow such violations to occur, and stressed that when acts of harassment and assault are normalized or downplayed, it reinforces a culture of impunity and further endangers women and girls.

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ActionAid Nigeria demanded the urgent identification and prosecution of perpetrators through a transparent process, emphasizing that all individuals involved in the acts must be brought to book through a credible process that delivers justice and restores public confidence.

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The organization also called on Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to ensure swift and decisive action by security agencies, and demonstrate zero tolerance for gender-based violence in both policy and practice, including full public disclosure of actions taken, including arrests and prosecution outcomes.

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ActionAid further urged the Federal and Delta State Ministries of Women Affairs to provide survivor-centered support, including medical care, psychosocial services, and legal assistance, emphasizing that survivors must be protected from stigma and supported to seek justice without fear.

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The incident has sparked nationwide concern, with stakeholders insisting that the Ozoro incident must serve as a turning point in tackling sexual violence, enforcing accountability, and restoring public confidence in community safety, and Iyovwaye urged Nigerians to unite against all forms of abuse and lawlessness.

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Chairman of Isoko North LGA, Prince Godwin Ogorugba, described the incident as inhumane, disheartening, and totally unacceptable, and vowed to go after perpetrators of the condemnable and barbaric act and have them prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others in the land.

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Ogorugba emphasized that no cultural or social activity justifies any form of molestation, harassment, intimidation, and misconduct, and that every individual deserves to be treated with respect, dignity, and protected under the law, warning that such barbaric acts would not be tolerated under his administration.

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Isoko Development Union, IDU, described the incident as a condemnable aberration that should not be celebrated in any form, with President General of the IDU, Prof. Chris Akpotu, stating that the Isoko people are known for their traditional values and that the act of harassment of women would never be tolerated.

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Akpotu stressed that perpetrators must face the wrath of the law, and if found wanting, they should be dealt with, emphasizing that the incident is an aberration that should not be celebrated in any form.