Ozoro Festival: ActionAid demands arrest of perpetrators

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has condemned alleged acts of violence against women and girls during a recent cultural festival in Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

In a statement on Friday, Country Director Dr. Andrew Mamedu described the incidents as “disturbing” and said they reflect a “grave failure to guarantee safety and dignity in a communal space.” Video clips of the alleged assaults have circulated widely on social media, showing women and girls being harassed, chased, and assaulted in public.

Mamedu stressed that “violence against women and girls must never be trivialised, justified, or explained away under any circumstance,” and warned that attempts to frame the incidents as cultural misinterpretations should not excuse the abuse. He added that the occurrence points to broader systemic issues, where harmful norms, silence, and weak enforcement allow such violations to persist.

ActionAid Nigeria urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to take decisive action, directing law enforcement agencies to swiftly apprehend perpetrators and publicly disclose measures taken, including arrests and prosecution outcomes. The organisation also called on the Federal and State Ministries of Women Affairs to provide survivor-centred support, including medical care, psychosocial services, legal assistance, and safe reporting mechanisms.

“Addressing gender-based violence requires deliberate, sustained action across institutions, communities, and leadership structures. Ozoro kingdom needs to do better and review cultural practices that harm women and girls,” Mamedu said, reaffirming ActionAid’s commitment to protecting the rights, safety, and dignity of women and girls.

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