THE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the reported sexual assault of women during a local festival in Ozoro, Delta State, describing the incident as a “national disgrace” and a grave violation of human rights.
In a joint statement signed on Saturday, March 21, by the NBA President Afam Osigwe and Chairperson of the NBA Women Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, said the incident reflects a “collapse of conscience” and exposes deep-rooted gender-based violence.
“A society reveals its true character in how it treats its women. Where women are chased, stripped, groped, violated, and publicly humiliated by mobs under the guise of celebration, what is on display is not culture. It is barbarity. It is a collapse of conscience. It is a stain on our shared humanity.
“The deeply disturbing reports emerging from a recent festival in Ozoro, Delta State, are not just troubling; they are horrifying. Women were allegedly accosted in broad daylight, forcefully stripped of their clothing, sexually assaulted, and subjected to degrading treatment by groups of young men while others watched, recorded, and, in some instances, cheered,” the statement read.
The condemnation follows the circulation of a disturbing viral video showing groups of men allegedly harassing and assaulting young women during the Alue-Do Festival in Uruamudhu Community, one of the five traditional communities in Ozoro Kingdom.
The ICIR reported that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigerians have reacted with outrage as reports suggest that even visitors unfamiliar with the festival’s risks including students from nearby institutions may have been affected.
The NBA in its latest statement stressed that such acts constitute serious criminal offences, including sexual violence, assault, and violations of the constitutional rights to dignity, liberty, and personal security as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“These acts amount to a grave violation of the fundamental rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, and security as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), as well as other international human rights instruments. They also constitute serious criminal offences under our laws, including assault, sexual violence, and public indecency.
Rejecting any cultural justification, the association declared that no tradition can legitimise violence against women, urging authorities to take decisive action.
“No woman should ever have to endure such terror, such exposure, such violation of her dignity. This was not a festival. This was lawlessness. This was gender-based violence in its most primitive and shameful form.
The NBA also called on community leaders and festival organisers to ensure that cultural events uphold dignity and safety, rather than becoming platforms for abuse.
“It is criminality. We call on the Delta State Government and all relevant law enforcement agencies to act swiftly and decisively. The perpetrators must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.
“Those who aided, enabled, or failed to intervene must also be held accountable. Justice must not be delayed, and it must not be selective. Silence, indifference, or excuses in the face of such brutality only embolden further abuse.
“We further call on community leaders, traditional institutions, and festival organisers to take urgent responsibility. Cultural celebrations must never become theatres of violence. They must reflect dignity, order, and respect for human life, not chaos and cruelty.
“The protection of women is not optional. It is a legal duty. It is a moral obligation. It is a test of who we are as a people. Nigeria must not become a place where women live in fear of being stripped of both their clothing and their dignity in public spaces. This must never happen again!,” the statement added.
Echoing similar concerns, the Delta State Government described the incident as “barbaric and unacceptable,” warning against the misuse of cultural gatherings to perpetrate criminal acts.
Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, urged security agencies to act swiftly in apprehending those responsible.
“The Delta State Government strongly condemns the harassment of ladies and the reported cases of rape during the Ozoro Festival. Such barbaric acts are totally unacceptable and have no place in our society,” the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said in a statement.
The State Government emphasised that protecting women is not only a moral responsibility but a legal obligation, warning that failure to act decisively could embolden further abuse.
“We are calling on the police and other security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of these heinous acts and bring them to justice. No individual or group should be allowed to hide under the guise of a festival to perpetrate criminal activities,” he added.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.