We need to understand what culture and tradition stands for before we can say somethings needs to stand as a way of life in our community. When we come up with things that are crime and disguise them as part of our culture then those behind that are nothing but animals in human form.
This brings us to the incident behind a criminal act called culture in a town of Ozoro, headquarters of the Isoko North Local Government Area in Delta State where viral videos which did not showcase the standard cultural celebration, but rather scenes of crime and terror surfaced on social media platforms.
The footage showed women and girls being openly chased, surrounded, physically assaulted, and subjected to mass sexual harassment in broad daylight in public spaces. In the immediate aftermath, as the clips circulated rapidly, the event was labeled in public discourse as a “rape festival,” sparking profound outrage, condemnation from international NGOs, and urgent directives from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
This investigation digs into the incidents to know what exactly the men in the community sexually assaulted the ladies publicly under the disguise of festival.
Severally videos showed groups of men chasing terrified women through streets and marketplaces. Victims were seen being cornered, stripped of clothing, and subjected to physical and sexual violence.
Human rights organizations and government bodies issued swift, stern condemnations.“Regardless of how such actions are described, the reality remains that women and girls were subjected to abuse in full public view, and this demands accountability.”— ActionAid Nigeria, Press Statement, March 20, 2026.
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development described the reports as “deeply disturbing, unacceptable, and contrary to all norms of human dignity, public safety, and the rule of law,” explicitly stating that the reports reflected elements of a “rape culture.”
As the town of Ozoro fell under intense scrutiny, some local voices attempted to reduce the gravity of the events or frame them as a “misinterpretation” of customary practices stating that the “Festival of Fertility” was hijacked.
The incidents reportedly occurred during activities linked to a local festival in Ozoro. Local sources indicate the specific event was the Alue-Do Festival, historically regarded within the Ozoro Kingdom as a “Festival of Fertility.”
Traditional apologists stated that a part of the festival involved a symbolic “chasing” of women by men. However, modern legal and human rights analysis has rejected this defense.
The actions documented in Ozoro failed this test instantly. ActionAid Nigeria stressed that “no cultural festival or traditional belief can be used to excuse or conceal violence.” The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, reaffirmed this stance, citing that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria holds supremacy over any customary law.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which administers the VAPP Act, has been urged to ensure that the sensationalist label of a “rape festival” is met with rigorous forensic investigation focused on individual liability.
The Roadmap to Justice and ReformAs of late March 2026, Ozoro remains a town under surveillance. The immediate priority is survivor-centered support. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has pledged coordinated support, including medical care, psychosocial care, and legal aid for the affected women and girls, while working to protect survivors from stigma.
The long-term roadmap requires the Ozoro Kingdom to take responsibility for critically reviewing its cultural practices.“Ozoro Kingdom must critically review cultural practices that put women and girls at risk,” ActionAid Nigeria stated, “and ensure that tradition does not come at the expense of safety, dignity, or rights.”
The events of March 2026 have served as a watershed moment for Delta State. It has highlighted persistent gaps in safeguarding women in public and cultural spaces and underscored the urgent need to dismantle harmful norms that allow gender-based violence (GBV) to be normalized under the guise of “tradition.” The message from both Abuja and Asaba is now clear: Culture can no longer be a sanctuary for criminality.
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