After numerous ladies and female students were attacked during a traditional festival in Ozoro, the capital of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, the town is in a state of panic, and many students have reportedly fled out of fear of more attacks.
It was learned that the event happened following the controversial “Alue-Do” festival, when viral recordings showed mobs of young men chasing, stripping, and attacking young ladies, which caused uproar across the country.
According to Sunday PUNCH, a student leader in the community told our correspondent that many female students had started to leave to avoid being caught in more violence because they were still traumatized by the incident.
“Most of the girls in the village are afraid, especially when they heard that the event would extend for seven days. The insider claimed, “A lot of people left early this morning, and some were still seen leaving up until this evening.”
He said that the mood in the town was still tight, with residents and students becoming more anxious as the event went on and more people worried about it happening again.
The student leader also said that some college students were among those who sexually assaulted women during the celebration.
He called the event “deeply troubling” and pointed out that it wasn’t just natives who took part in the attack.
“Not only the natives took part in the molestation.” Some kids were also involved, which is the worst part. He stated, “It shows how decadent our society, the education system, and people in general are.”
The student leader said that everyone engaged should be handled like “common criminals,” no matter what their standing was, and urged for their arrest and prosecution.
He made it clear that no rape had been confirmed among the afflicted pupils, but several of them were transported to the hospital and treated for assault.
“Sexual assault is a really bad crime that hurts the dignity of our ladies. “We will not allow that,” he said, hoping that it will not happen again.
In the meantime, the Delta State Police Command has detained 11 more people in connection with the attack, bringing the total number of people in detention to 15.
Earlier, the police had arrested Omorede Sunday, the head of the community, and four other people.
Bright Edafe, the Police Public Relations Officer, said in a statement yesterday that the CP Special Assignment Team made the arrests on the orders of Commissioner of Police Aina Adesola.
Edafe said that the arrests were made after a careful look at camera footage and information. Some of the suspects were named as Samson Atukpodo, Steven Ovie, Ugbevo Samson, Afoke Akporobaro, and Evidence Oguname.
He said that early investigations showed that criminals used the event as a cover to commit sexual violence and that this kind of behavior is not part of any known cultural practice.
Edafe said, “The Commissioner of Police condemns these acts in totality and reassures the public that the command remains resolute in its determination to ensure that all those involved are identified, arrested, and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”
The incident, which was caught on viral recordings showing women being chased, stripped, and attacked, has made people all over the country very angry.
The Nigerian Bar Association called the event “a national disgrace.”
The NBA Women Forum’s Chairperson, Huwaila Muhammad, and President Afam Osigwe signed a statement that declared, “A society shows its true character by how it treats its women.” What is on show is not culture but barbarity when women are hunted, stripped, raped, and humiliated in public under the pretext of celebration.
The NBA said that there was no cultural reason that could justify violence against women and urged the Delta State Government and law enforcement to make sure that all offenders are punished.
The Nigeria Federation of Business and Professional Women also asked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to suspend all traditional rulers in Ozoro, saying they had not done enough to stop the violence.
The group also asked for an impartial panel of inquiry to look into the event and figure out what part traditional authorities played.
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