Tension has gripped Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, as female students of the local university and residents flee the community following violent assaults during a traditional festival.
The panic comes in the wake of the controversial ‘Alue-Do’ festival, during which viral videos showed groups of young men chasing, stripping and assaulting women—an incident that has sparked nationwide outrage and condemnation.
It was gathered that the fear of further attacks has triggered a mass exodus of female students, with many leaving the area abruptly to avoid being caught in what they described as a tense and unsafe environment.
A student leader in the community confirmed the development, noting that anxiety remained high as uncertainty surrounds the duration of the festival, which is reportedly meant to last seven days.
“Most of the female students are scared. Many left early this morning, and others continued leaving into the evening,” the source said.
He added that the situation remained volatile, with fears that similar incidents could recur if urgent action was not taken.
The student leader also alleged that some university students were among those involved in the assaults, describing the situation as deeply troubling.
“It is not only indigenes who participated in the molestation. Some students also took part in it. That is the most painful part,” he said, condemning the act as evidence of growing societal decay.
He insisted that all those involved, regardless of status, must be treated as criminals and brought to justice.
While clarifying that no confirmed case of rape had been recorded, he disclosed that some victims sustained injuries and were treated in hospital following the assaults.
“Sexual assault is a serious offence. It destroys dignity and must not be tolerated,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command has intensified its crackdown, arresting 11 additional suspects, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to 15.
Earlier, a community leader, Omorede Sunday, and four others had been arrested in connection with the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, confirmed that the arrests followed intelligence gathering and analysis of video footage linked to the assault.
He stated that operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team acted on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola.
According to him, preliminary findings indicate that criminal elements exploited the festival to perpetrate acts of sexual violence, stressing that such actions do not represent any recognised cultural practice.
“The Commissioner of Police condemns these acts in totality and assures that all those involved will be identified, arrested and prosecuted,” Edafe said.
The incident, captured in widely circulated videos, has continued to generate outrage across the country, with several groups and institutions condemning the attack as barbaric and unacceptable.
The Nigerian Bar Association described the incident as a national disgrace, stating that violence against women under any guise cannot be justified.
The association, in a statement by its President, Afam Osigwe, and the Chairperson of its Women Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, said the treatment of women in such a manner reflects the moral state of society.
“Where women are chased, stripped, violated and publicly humiliated under the guise of celebration, what is on display is not culture but barbarity,” the NBA stated.
Similarly, the Nigeria Federation of Business and Professional Women has called for the suspension of traditional rulers in the community, alleging failure to prevent the violence.
The group also demanded the setting up of an independent panel to investigate the incident and identify all those responsible.
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