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Ozoro, the university town in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, is in the news for wrong reason. The community’s Alue-Do Festival, a celebration rooted in culture and reverence for fertility, which has ran for decades, suddenly became a sore point, with sexual violence against women reportedly perpetrated by gangs of boys. Although the community has denied that the festival is associated with rape of women, reports of what happened in the recent celebration underline a spectacle of lawlessness and the dehumanisation of women and young girls.
Videos that went viral on March 19 showed young girls being harassed and chased by boys. In one particularly distressing clip, a girl with a torn bra was surrounded by rampaging youths. Allegations of rape have also surfaced, although no victim has yet publicly come forward.
Sexual violence against women should provoke moral outrage and legal scrutiny. What occurred in Ozoro was, at the very least, a gross violation of dignity, bodily autonomy and basic human decency. This must not recur.
Cultural festivals are an essential part of communal identity. The Alue-Do Festival is no exception. However, culture must never be weaponised as a shield for criminal behaviour. Traditions evolve, and any aspect of culture that enables or excuses abuse must be confronted and reformed. There is no cultural justification for harassment and assault on women.
Ozoro is not an isolated rural enclave detached from modern norms. It is a home to the Delta State University of Science and Technology (DSUST), and hosts a diverse population of young women pursuing education and opportunity. Incidents such as these send a chilling message—not only to residents but to parents and guardians across the country—that their daughters may not be safe in spaces that should be secure. That is unacceptable.
It is, therefore, encouraging that prominent figures, including President Bola Tinubu’s wife, Oluremi Tinubu and Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, have publicly condemned the incident. Their voices amplify the urgency of the matter and signal that such behaviour will not be trivialised. The assurances from the Delta State Government and the police command that arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing are steps in the right direction.
But arrests alone are not justice. Too often, public anger dissipates while cases quietly fade into obscurity. This must not be one of those abandoned cases. The credibility of law enforcement and the justice system hinges on transparent and diligent prosecution of offenders. There must be justice for the victims of the heinous criminality. Adequate sanctions for the perpetrators of this crime will deter others from toeing the evil path.
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Beyond the immediate need for accountability lies a deeper societal challenge. Incidents like this do not occur in a vacuum. They are symptoms of a broader cultural and social problem: the normalisation of disrespect and violence against women. The question must be asked—what is shaping the attitudes of these young men? Why do they feel emboldened to act in mobs, stripping women of dignity without fear of consequences?
The answers lie partly in the home, where values are first instilled. Boys must be raised not merely to avoid wrongdoing but to actively respect women as equals. Respect must go beyond rhetoric; it must be demonstrated in behaviour, reinforced by parents, schools, religious institutions and community leaders. Silence or indifference in the face of misogyny only allows it to fester.
Educational institutions, particularly in a university town like Ozoro, also have a critical role to play. Orientation programmes, campus policies and student-led initiatives should emphasise mutual respect and zero tolerance for sexual harassment. Festivals and public gatherings must be properly regulated, with security measures that prioritise the safety of all participants, especially women.
Community leaders and organisers of cultural events must equally take responsibility. If a festival repeatedly becomes a platform for gender abuse, then its structure, supervision and even its continuation must be questioned. Tradition cannot be preserved at the expense of human dignity.
Furthermore, there is a need for greater support systems for victims. The reluctance of any alleged rape victim to come forward may reflect fear, stigma or lack of trust in the criminal justice system. Authorities must create safe and confidential channels for reporting sexual abuse of women. They must also ensure that victims are protected, believed and supported, not shamed or ignored.
What happened in Ozoro must not become another entry in Nigeria’s long list of unresolved sexual assault cases. It must serve as a turning point: a moment when society collectively decides that enough is enough. The protection of women’s rights is not a favour; it is a fundamental obligation of a just society. Nigeria must not normalise a culture where women’s bodies are abused. That is a path no society should tread. Justice must be done. And more importantly, it must be seen to be done.
