Delta Police Arrest Festival Organiser, Four Others Over Women Assaults

Delta Police Arrest Festival Organiser, Four Others Over Women Assaults

The Delta State Police Command has detained five suspects, including a community leader, over the alleged assault of women during a cultural festival in Ozoro, Delta State.

Spokesperson for the command, Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrests on Friday, identifying the principal suspect as Chief Omorede Sunday, said to be the community head and chief organiser of the event. Four other suspects from the Oramudu quarters were also taken into custody.

According to Edafe, the Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, has directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a thorough investigation.

“The suspects have been arrested and will be moved to the State CID immediately. The Commissioner has assured that everyone involved will be tracked down and prosecuted,” he said.

The arrests followed the circulation of disturbing videos on social media showing groups of young men allegedly harassing women during the festival, including tearing their clothes and subjecting them to various forms of abuse.

The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday during the annual celebration in Ozoro, where some local customs allegedly restrict women from moving freely during certain periods of the event.

While there were claims that some victims may have been raped, authorities said such allegations were yet to be officially verified as of the time of filing this report.

Reacting earlier, Edafe described the incident as “alarming, disgusting and embarrassing,” stressing that the police command condemned the acts in strong terms.

“No custom or tradition is superior to the rights of citizens,” he said, while urging members of the public with useful information to assist ongoing investigations.

The Delta State Government also condemned the development, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable.

The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, called on security agencies to ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice.

“No group should hide under the guise of a festival to commit criminal acts,” he said, urging organisers of cultural events to prioritise safety and put adequate measures in place to prevent a recurrence.

The state government reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on gender-based violence, warning that offenders would face the full weight of the law.

Meanwhile, the incident has triggered widespread outrage online, with many Nigerians demanding justice for the victims and calling for an end to harmful practices that violate the rights and dignity of women.