Several women and female students were sexually stripped and sexually assaulted during a fertility rite festival in Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Youths reportedly attacked the women during the ‘Alue-Do’ festival held on Thursday, March 19.
Videos of the incident surfaced on social media on Friday, showing young women being chased, stripped and molested in broad daylight.
The incident has caused widespread condemnation across the country.
A shared video clip showed a young lady seated on a motorcycle being dragged to the ground by some youths, who beat and tore her clothes.
Another video showed a young woman fleeing from her attackers who pulled her clothes, stripping her naked.
A third video showed another female victim struggling to shield herself from a mob.
As at the time of this report, the exact number of those affected have not been independently confirmed.
According to members of the community, the fertility rite festival is meant to bring blessings of children for couples experiencing difficulty with childbirth.
It was learnt that the festival holds annually.
The Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Anthony Ogbogbo, on Friday, denied knowing the festival.
He said, “I have more than 200 videos and photographs of what transpired. Government officials, kings across the world have been calling me to know what is happening. I have been a king for more than 20 years. I have never heard that a festival is celebrated with girls being harassed, sexually molested or raped in my community all in the name of a festival.”
But Student Union Government President of Southern Delta University, Oribelua Precious, said some of the victims were students of the school.
Precious, who led a delegation to the monarch’s palace, said they were admitted to a hospital.
Precious said, “When we got to the hospital, the doctor on duty confirmed that no student was penetrated but they were molested; although an attempt to rape anyone cannot be taken lightly because it is a serious matter.
“We gathered from our students that although an announcement was made, the students said they couldn’t understand the message until the incident happened.
Also, the President-General, Chief Berkley Asiafa, and Secretary-General, Prince Obaro Egware, the community confirmed that some youths acted irresponsibly.
They condemned the actions, saying such behaviour was not part of the community’s culture and would not be tolerated.
They also said security agencies had been contacted and investigations were ongoing.
