The Delta State Government has announced a major breakthrough in the investigation of the mass sexual assault of women during the Ozoro festival, disclosing that 11 additional suspects have been arrested, bringing the total number of persons in custody to 16 since the incident sparked nationwide outrage.
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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has also weighed in, condemning the assault as a form of gender-based violence that violates human rights and dignity, and pledging to support all actions aimed at ensuring justice for victims.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, the Delta State Government disclosed that the CP Special Assignment Team, acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Aina Adesola, carried out detailed investigations analysing video evidence and intelligence gathered from the scene, leading to the arrest of 11 more suspects.
Those arrested include Samson Atukpodo, Steven Ovie, Ugbevo Samson, Afoke Akporobaro, Evidence Oguname, and six others whose names were not immediately disclosed.
The fresh arrests bring the total to 16, following the earlier arrest of Chief Omorede Sunday, identified as the community head of Oramudu Quarter and chief organiser of the festival, along with four other suspects who were picked up in the immediate aftermath of the incident and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.
The Delta State Government was emphatic that the sexual assaults were carried out by criminal elements who exploited the situation to perpetrate sexual violence and do not reflect any legitimate cultural practice.
This position reinforces the stance taken by multiple institutions including the Nigerian Bar Association, which described the incident as criminality rather than culture, and over 500 women’s organisations under the Womanifesto coalition, which called the acts organised and institutionalised abuse.
The police command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all those involved are identified and brought to justice. Victims and witnesses were encouraged to come forward with useful information, with assurances of confidentiality to protect their identities.
NAPTIP issued its own statement on Saturday strongly condemning what it described as barbaric sexual assaults and harassment against women and girls during the Ozoro festival.
“NAPTIP strongly condemns the barbaric sexual assaults and harassment against women and girls during a festival in Ozoro, Delta State. These criminal acts violate human rights and dignity, and they are another form of gender-based violence,” the agency stated.
NAPTIP commended the Nigeria Police Force in Delta State for its swift response and arrests, and pledged continued support for all actions aimed at ensuring justice for victims and preventing future occurrences.
The investigation has relied heavily on the analysis of video evidence that went viral on social media showing young women being chased, stripped, and molested in broad daylight during the ‘Alue-Do’ festival on Thursday, March 19.
The CP Special Assignment Team has been using the video footage, combined with intelligence from the community, to identify and track down perpetrators. The fact that many of the assaults were recorded and shared on social media has provided investigators with substantial visual evidence that is being used to identify suspects who might otherwise have escaped accountability.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Aina Adesola, has personally overseen the investigation, ordering the transfer of all suspects to the State Criminal Investigation Department for thorough prosecution.
The incident has drawn condemnation from virtually every level of Nigerian society. The Federal Government through the Minister of Women Affairs directed the arrest of all suspects. The Delta State Government described the acts as barbaric. The NBA through President Osigwe SAN and NBA Women Forum Chairperson Huwaila Muhammad issued a joint statement calling it a national disgrace. The Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom said he had never in 20 years as monarch heard of such conduct during a festival.
The National Association of Nigerian Students described the incident as a gross violation of human rights, noting that some victims were students of Southern Delta University who could not understand the announcements warning women to stay indoors because they were made in a local language.
Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili described the incident as a failure of governance, while human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong stated that no culture in any part of Nigeria permits the targeting or discrimination of women.
The Student Union Government President of Southern Delta University confirmed that some victims were admitted to hospital. While doctors confirmed no penetration occurred in the cases examined, the victims were molested and physically assaulted.
However, the full scale of the assault remains unknown. The student union president noted that many victims are refusing to come forward due to stigma, and that what happened in areas without cameras may never be documented.
“Who knows what would have happened in places where there were no cameras. We are only speaking based on what we’ve seen on video,” the student leader stated.
The police’s assurance of confidentiality for victims and witnesses who come forward is aimed at encouraging more people to provide information, which could lead to further arrests.
With 16 suspects now in custody and investigations ongoing, the case is expected to proceed to prosecution. The charges could include sexual assault, indecent assault, conspiracy, and violations of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
The continued analysis of video evidence suggests that more arrests may follow as investigators work through the footage to identify additional perpetrators. The police have made clear that all those involved will be brought to justice, regardless of their status in the community.
The case has become a defining test of Nigeria’s commitment to prosecuting gender-based violence and ensuring that cultural practices are not used as shields for criminal conduct.
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