The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has condemned the sexual assault of several women and female students during a traditional festival in Ozoro, the headquarters of the Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The victims were allegedly attacked by youths during the contentious ‘Alue-Do’ festival on Thursday, March 19.
Videos of the event, which emerged on social media on Friday, showed young ladies being followed, undressed, and groped in broad daylight, eliciting worldwide condemnation.
Residents said the celebration, characterized as a fertility rite aimed at invoking the blessings of children for couples having problems giving birth, was celebrated on a regular basis in the neighborhood.
In a statement released on Saturday, the agency strongly condemned the attacks, calling them a breach of human rights and dignity.
“NAPTIP strongly condemns the barbaric sexual assaults and harassment against women and girls during a festival in Ozoro, Delta State. These criminal acts violate human rights and dignity, and they are another form of gender-based violence.
“We commend the Nigeria Police Force in Delta State for their swift response and arrests of suspects, including the organizer and the community head.
“NAPTIP shall continue to support all actions aimed at ensuring justice for the victims as well as preventing the recurrence of such crimes in the future,” the statement read.
The condemnation follows earlier statements from the Delta State government, which branded the incident as brutal and reprehensible.
Charles Aniagwu, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, stated that no cultural gathering should be used to cover up illegal activity.
“The Delta State Government strongly condemns the harassment of women and the reported cases of sexual assault during the Ozoro festival. Such barbaric acts are totally unacceptable and have no place in our society,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force verified the arrest of a community leader and numerous individuals in relation to the event.
According to Bright Edafe, the state’s police public relations officer, the accused include Omorede Sunday, a community leader, and four others suspected of being festival organizers.
“The community head and chief organizer of the event and four other suspects have been arrested. The commissioner of police has ordered their transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department,” Edafe said in a statement.
