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.
The reaction follows the circulation of a viral video showing young women being harassed and assaulted during the Alue-Do Festival in Uruamudhu Community, one of the five traditional communities in Ozoro Kingdom. The footage has sparked widespread outrage across social media.
In a joint statement, NBA President Afam Osigwe and Chairperson of the NBA Women Forum Huwaila Muhammad described the incident as a reflection of moral failure and societal breakdown.
“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 statement read.
They further described the reports from Ozoro as deeply disturbing. “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 association stressed that such acts constitute serious violations of constitutional rights and criminal laws.
“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.”
Condemning the incident in strong terms, the NBA stated:
“The NBA condemns these acts in the strongest possible terms. No tradition, no custom, no so-called cultural practice can excuse or legitimise the degradation and violation of women. Any practice that permits such cruelty is not culture. It is criminality.”
The body called on the Delta State Government and relevant law enforcement agencies to act decisively.
“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.”
It also urged community leaders and organisers of cultural events to take responsibility.
“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.”
Reaffirming its stance, the NBA added:
“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 condemnation comes after the Delta State Government also denounced the incident, describing it as “barbaric and unacceptable.”
Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said:
“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.”
He further urged security agencies to take swift action.
“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.”
