Tension has gripped Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, as several female students have reportedly fled the community following recent assaults on women during a traditional festival.
Findings by Sunday PUNCH indicated that the development followed the controversial ‘Alue-Do’ festival, where disturbing videos surfaced online showing young women being chased, stripped and assaulted by groups of youths, triggering widespread outrage across the country.
A student leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that many female students, still shaken by the incident, had begun leaving the area over fears of further violence.
He said, “Most female students are living in fear, especially after learning that the festival could last up to seven days. Many left earlier today, while others continued to depart as of this evening.”
According to him, anxiety remains high within the community, as uncertainty persists over the duration of the festival and the possibility of a recurrence of the attacks.
The student leader also alleged that some undergraduates were involved in the assault, describing the situation as disturbing and indicative of a deeper societal problem.
“It is particularly painful that some students were involved.
This reflects a worrying level of moral decline within society and among young people,” he said.
He called for the perpetrators to be treated as criminals and prosecuted accordingly, regardless of their background or status.
While clarifying that no confirmed cases of rape had been recorded among affected students, he noted that some victims received medical attention for injuries sustained during the attacks.
“Sexual assault is a grave violation, and it undermines the dignity of women. Such behaviour must not be tolerated,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command said it had arrested 11 additional suspects in connection with the incident, bringing the total number of arrests to 15.
The police had earlier detained a community leader, Omorede Sunday, alongside four others.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, said the arrests were carried out by operatives of the CP Special Assignment Team on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola.
He explained that the suspects were identified through analysis of video evidence and intelligence reports, naming some of them as Samson Atukpodo, Steven Ovie, Ugbevo Samson, Afoke Akporobaro and Evidence Oguname.
Edafe stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the perpetrators were criminal elements who took advantage of the festival to carry out acts of violence, stressing that such conduct was not part of any recognised cultural practice.
He added that the Commissioner of Police had condemned the incident and assured the public that all those involved would be brought to justice.
The incident, widely circulated on social media, has continued to draw condemnation from various quarters.
The Nigerian Bar Association described the development as a national embarrassment, stressing that no cultural practice could justify violence against women.
In a statement signed by its President, Afam Osigwe, and the Chairperson of the NBA Women Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, the association said society must be judged by how it treats its women.
It urged the Delta State Government and security agencies to ensure that all those responsible are identified and prosecuted.
Similarly, the Nigeria Federation of Business and Professional Women called on the state government to suspend traditional rulers in the area, accusing them of failing to prevent the attacks.
The group also demanded the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the incident and determine the level of accountability among local authorities.