The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigerians have reacted with outrage following the circulation of disturbing videos showing assault and alleged gang r*pe of women in Ozoro, a community in Delta State.
The videos, which surfaced on social media on Friday, March
20, show several women crying and calling for help as groups of men harassed
and attacked them in public.
In one of the clips, a male voice was heard
claiming that any woman who stepped outside during the period risked being
r*ped.
Another clip showed a lady being
dragged on the ground, with men attempting to tear her clothes, while also
manhandling her. She was later seen to be rescued by another person. However,
several other ladies were chased down the street by men numbering hundreds.
The incidents have been linked by online sources to what has
been described as a so-called ‘festival’ in Ozoro, where young women were
allegedly targeted by men.
Reports also suggested that warnings had circulated within
the community advising girls and women to remain indoors for their safety.
Ozoro hosts part of Delta State University.
Police condemn act, launch investigation
Reacting to the development on Friday, the Delta State
Police Command described the incident as “alarming, disgusting and
embarrassing,” stressing that no cultural practice could justify such acts.
The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said the state
Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, had ordered an immediate investigation
into the matter.
The police condemned the acts in strong terms, noting that
“no custom or tradition is superior to the rights of citizens.”
The police further assured residents that those responsible
would be identified, arrested, and prosecuted, while calling on witnesses to
come forward with useful information to aid the investigation.
Public outrage trails incident
The videos have triggered widespread condemnation across
social media, with many Nigerians expressing shock and anger over the attacks.
Travel content creator, Tayo Aina, described the incident as
“the sickest” thing he had seen, questioning what kind of tradition could
permit such acts. He called on the Delta State Government to intervene.
“This is the sickest shit I ever seen. What kind of
disgusting tradition is this? Even animals can’t be doing this shit. Shame to
all the men in this video. The government of Delta state needs to intervene and
shut down whatever culture or tradition this is,” he wrote.
Another user, Tyson.nie, criticised the
practice, noting that warnings for women to stay indoors instead of arresting
perpetrators reflected a failure of local security structures.
Others described the acts as barbaric and inhumane,
highlighting the trauma associated with s#xual violence.
Also, popular social media influencer, Dickson said any
practice that violated consent could not be considered tradition. He called for
the arrest of all those involved, stressing that customs that contradict
Nigerian law and basic principles of justice should not be tolerated.
“There is no such thing as a raping festival. That is not
culture. Any s#xual practice that removes the right of women to be willing
participant, is not culture. That is simply gang r*pe and s#xual assault.
“The police need to pack everybody involved if they are not
also involved in this madness. Culture is not absolute. Man made culture.
Therefore, man can undo it. Any culture that is repugnant to natural justice,
equity and good conscience is not binding. Any culture that is incompatible
with extant Nigerian law is not binding. Any culture that contravenes public
policy is not binding,” he wrote.
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