Comedian and actor Mr. Jollof don express deep disappointment over di Ozoro festival incident wey happen for Delta State, where women dem allegedly suffer assault and harassment. For Instagram, im describe di act as “barbaric” and ask how dis kain disrespect to women still dey happen for 2026, especially during Women’s Month. “I feel as ashamed as a Deltan for 2026 if dis kain attitude to disrespect women still dey exist. Dis na even women month—we dey celebrate International Women's Day and Mother's Day, yet dis na wetin dey happen. Dat one na barbaric,” im talk.
Mr. Jollof don call on di Delta State government to address di situation urgently and make sure say justice dey serve, as im dey emphasize di safety concerns for parents wey dey send their daughters go school for Ozoro. “I dey call on di Delta State government to talk and hold dose wey responsible accountable. Pikin dem dey go school for Ozoro, how parents go feel safe to send their daughters go dere if na dis kain thing dey happen under di guise of festival?” im add.
Di Delta State Police Command don confirm say dem don arrest five suspects, including di festival organiser, Chief Omorede Sunday, and dem don vow to bring all perpetrators to justice. Di Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, condemn di incident as “acts of sexual violence wey be criminal, inhumane, and grave violation of fundamental human rights.”
Meanwhile, di Nigeria Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW Nigeria) don ask Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, to suspend all traditional rulers for Ozoro community over di alleged sexual assault and rape wey happen during di festival. For Thursday, outrage burst for social media after multiple videos circulate for X wey show men wey dey tear di clothes of young women during ‘Alue-Do’ festival. For one of di viral clips, men dem dey see groping women for manner wey many people describe as animalistic and despicable.
Subsequently, police don arrest Omorede Sunday, community head, and four other suspects over di incident. For open petition wey dem address to Oborevwori, BPW Nigeria talk say di traditional leadership must dey hold accountable for di incident wey happen during di festival, as dem add say di leaders “fail to prevent violence of dis nature.” Di association ask di Delta governor to establish independent panel of inquiry to investigate di incidents and di role of di traditional leaders.
BPW Nigeria talk say Oborevwori must involve di chieftaincy laws to discipline, suspend, or remove traditional rulers, wey fail for their duties. “Traditional Leadership must dey hold accountable. Dis events happen under di watch of recognised traditional institutions,” di petition read. “Traditional rulers no be just ceremonial, dem be custodians of order and protectors of their people. Where dose wey dey authority tolerate, endorse, or fail to prevent violence of dis nature, dem bear responsibility.”
Di petition continue: “Your Excellency get power under Delta State chieftaincy laws to discipline, suspend, or remove traditional rulers wey fail for their duties. We believe say dis na case where dose powers must dey exercise. Wetin we dey ask from you: Establish independent panel of inquiry to investigate di incidents, di role of traditional authorities, and di extent of institutional complicity. Invoke your chieftaincy powers to suspend all traditional office holders wey get dis area within their domain from First Class down to di lowest level of Chiefs pending investigation, and to remove from office any ruler wey dem find say enable, condone, or neglect to prevent dis acts.”
Di association also demand say government “ensure full prosecution of every perpetrator (organisers, participants, and enablers) under all applicable laws. Direct di relevant Ministry to review and enforce compliance standards for cultural festivals, with mandatory human rights and safety safeguards. Guarantee comprehensive support for victims including access to justice, medical care, psychosocial services, and witness protection.” Di petition na Ojobo Ode Atuluku, president of BPW Nigeria, sign am.
Di incident don spark nationwide outrage as many Nigerians dey condemn di assault and call for swift justice. Human rights organizations and women’s groups don join di call for thorough investigation and prosecution of all involved parties. Di National Agency for di Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) don also condemn di Delta festival assaults and commend police response to di matter.
As investigations dey continue, di eyes of di nation dey on Delta State government and law enforcement agencies to ensure say justice prevail and proper measures dey put for place to prevent future occurrences of such violence during cultural celebrations.
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