Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has strongly condemned the physical and sexual assaults allegedly carried out against women and girls during the Alue-Do Festival in Ozoro, Delta State, describing the incident as degrading, barbaric and unacceptable.
In a statement she personally signed on Sunday, the First Lady expressed deep concern over viral videos circulating online that showed women being harassed and assaulted during what should have been a peaceful cultural celebration.
She emphasised that cultural traditions must never be used as justification for violence or abuse against women and girls.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage, Tinubu insisted that no tradition should permit violations of human dignity.
I hold deep respect for the diverse cultures and traditions that define us as a people,” she said. However, no custom or tradition gives any man the right to violate the dignity or freedom of a woman or girl.
The First Lady commended the swift intervention of the Nigeria Police Force and urged law enforcement authorities to ensure that those responsible for the attacks are prosecuted.
She also appealed directly to the victims, encouraging them to seek medical and psychological support as they recover from the traumatic experience.
I urge the victims to seek the relevant medical and psychological help,” she said, while offering prayers for their healing and strength during the difficult period.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has reportedly expressed concern over the incident and directed that all those responsible be apprehended.
During a fact-finding visit to the community, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Aina Adesola, led a team of senior officers to assess the situation and reassure residents.
Police authorities confirmed that at least 11 suspects have already been arrested in connection with the alleged rape and other forms of sexual harassment.
According to a statement issued by the Delta State Police Command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, the police leadership considers the incident a serious violation that must not be tolerated.
As part of the response, the police delegation paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of Ozoro Kingdom, Anthony Uvietobore Ogbogbo, also known as the Ovie of Ozoro.
During the meeting, the police briefed the monarch on the progress of ongoing investigations and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring justice for the victims.
The monarch condemned the incident in strong terms, stressing that no girl should ever be subjected to such treatment.
He praised the police for their swift intervention and called for the arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved.
The royal father also directed that no festival or large gathering should be organised in the kingdom without proper consultation with the palace in order to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
The Chairman of Isoko North Local Government Area, Godwin Ogorugba, described the situation as unfortunate and clarified that the community does not recognise any event described as a rape festival.
According to him, the Alue-Do celebration is a traditional cultural event that was allegedly hijacked and mismanaged by criminal elements.
Ogorugba noted that many key community stakeholders were not properly informed before the event took place.
He assured that the state government would support security agencies in bringing all perpetrators to justice.
Student leaders also played a role in calming tensions after the incident. The South-South Zonal Coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Victor Ogechukwu, commended the police for responding quickly to the situation.
He noted that students opted for dialogue rather than protests in order to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
The police commissioner also praised the students for their restraint and maturity in handling the situation.
The Delta State Police Command reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on sexual and gender-based violence.
Authorities noted that the police maintain a dedicated Gender Desk at the state headquarters to handle cases involving sexual offences and gender-related abuse.
Victims of such crimes were encouraged to report incidents to the desk with the assurance that their complaints would be treated with confidentiality and seriousness.
The Alue-Do Festival incident has sparked widespread outrage across Nigeria, particularly on social media platforms where videos of the alleged assaults circulated widely.
Many Nigerians have expressed concern that cultural gatherings should never be allowed to become platforms for violence or intimidation.
Human rights advocates say the incident highlights the need for stronger enforcement of laws protecting women and girls, as well as increased public awareness about gender-based violence.
Security authorities have urged members of the public to provide credible information that could assist ongoing investigations.
They also assured that efforts are underway to ensure justice for the victims while preventing similar incidents in the future.
