A viral video allegedly showing the harassment of young women during a local festival in Delta State has ignited widespread public anger, with many Nigerians demanding urgent action from authorities.
The footage, which circulated rapidly across social media platforms, appears to capture disturbing scenes of men targeting and harassing women who attended the event in the Ozoro area.
The incident is said to have occurred during the Alue-Do Festival in Uruamudhu community, one of the traditional settlements within the Ozoro Kingdom.
The development has sparked intense reactions online, with users expressing concern over the safety of women, particularly visitors and students unfamiliar with local customs.
One social media user warned that outsiders, including students of institutions in the area, could unknowingly become victims due to a lack of awareness.
Observers described the situation as alarming, stressing that such acts should not be tolerated in any society and calling for immediate intervention by security agencies.
Reacting to the controversy, the Delta State Government issued a strong condemnation, labelling the incident as both “barbaric” and “unacceptable.”
The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the reported harassment and alleged cases of rape during the festival were deeply troubling and must be addressed decisively.
He emphasised that cultural celebrations must not be used as a cover for criminal behaviour, urging law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.
According to him, no group or individual should be allowed to exploit traditional events to carry out acts that violate the rights and dignity of others.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Ozoro Kingdom has rejected some of the narratives circulating online, describing them as misleading.
In a statement signed by President General Odio (Chief) Berkley Asiafa and Secretary General Prince Obaro Egware, the community acknowledged that the incident occurred during the Alue-Do Festival, a cultural event traditionally linked to fertility rites.
The leaders explained that while certain symbolic practices are part of the festival, they were wrongly interpreted and abused by some youths, resulting in inappropriate conduct toward women.
They, however, denied reports suggesting widespread violence or rape, insisting that the actions captured in the videos were the result of misapplication of cultural practices rather than an accepted tradition.
In response, the police authorities confirmed that both tactical and investigative teams have been deployed to track down those involved in the incident.
The Delta State Police Command stated that efforts are ongoing to identify, arrest, and prosecute all individuals found culpable.
The command also called on victims and witnesses to come forward with useful information, assuring that all reports would be treated with strict confidentiality and professionalism.
Police spokesperson Bright Edafe reiterated the commitment of the command to uphold public safety, protect citizens’ rights, and maintain law and order across the state.
He further appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with authorities, while assuring that those responsible for the acts would be brought to justice.
