Ozoro Festival Violence: ActionAid Calls for Prosecution of Those Responsible

ActionAid Nigeria has strongly denounced the reported violence against women and girls that occurred during a cultural festival in Ozoro, Delta State, and is calling for the immediate apprehension and prosecution of those responsible, according to a statement made by Country Director Dr. Andrew Mamedu on Friday.

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The incidents, which have been widely circulated on social media through video clips, depict women and girls being harassed, chased, and assaulted in public, prompting Dr. Mamedu to describe them as "disturbing" and a "grave failure to guarantee safety and dignity in a communal space).

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Dr. Mamedu emphasized that violence against women and girls should never be downplayed or justified under any circumstances, and warned against attempts to dismiss the incidents as cultural misinterpretations, which should not be used to excuse the abuse.

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The occurrence, according to Dr. Mamedu, highlights broader systemic issues, where harmful norms, silence, and weak enforcement enable such violations to persist, allowing them to become entrenched.

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ActionAid Nigeria is urging Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to take decisive action, directing law enforcement agencies to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators and publicly disclose the measures taken, including the outcomes of arrests and prosecutions.

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The organisation is also calling on the Federal and State Ministries of Women Affairs to provide support centred on the survivors, including medical care, psychosocial services, legal assistance, and safe mechanisms for reporting incidents.

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Dr. Mamedu stated that addressing gender-based violence requires intentional and sustained action across institutions, communities, and leadership structures, and noted that the Ozoro kingdom needs to re-examine its cultural practices that harm women and girls.

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Dr. Mamedu reaffirmed ActionAid's commitment to protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of women and girls, emphasizing the need for deliberate action to address the issue of gender-based violence.