SEXUAL ASSAULT ON WOMEN AT OZORO FESTIVAL IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE.

A society reveals its true character in how it treats its women. Where women are chased, stripped, groped, violated, and publicly humiliated by mobs under the guise of celebration, what is on display is not culture. It is barbarity. It is a collapse of conscience. It is a stain on our shared humanity.

According to accounts from the event, several women were allegedly sexually harrased  in public during the celebration. Victims were reportedly harassed, stripped of their clothing, and subjected to sexual abuse by groups of young men. Eyewitnesses say some individuals present recorded the incidents,one, more than 7 men where on one women,  while others failed to intervene.

The situation has been widely described as a breakdown of law and order, raising serious concerns about safety at public gatherings and the treatment of women in society.

Legal experts note that such actions violate fundamental human rights, including the right to dignity, personal liberty, and security, as guaranteed under Nigerian law. The reported acts may also constitute criminal offences such as assault, sexual violence, and public indecency.

The Nigerian Bar Association strongly condemned the incident, stating that no cultural practice or festival should justify violence or the humiliation of women. The association emphasized that such acts are criminal and must be treated as such.

The NBA President, Afam Osigwe, along with the Chairperson of the NBA Women Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, called on authorities in Delta State to take immediate action.

They urged law enforcement agencies to identify and arrest those responsible, as well as anyone who may have enabled or ignored the attacks. They also stressed that justice must be swift and applied without bias.

Community leaders and festival organisers have also been advised to take greater responsibility in ensuring that cultural events remain safe and respectful for all participants.

The incident has renewed calls for stronger protections for women and stricter enforcement of laws against gender-based violence in Nigeria.