Delta Sexual Assault: Police Stop 7-day Festival

Sequel to the ongoing investigation into the alleged sexual assault in Ozoro, Isoko north local government area, Delta State, the commissioner of police, Aina Adesola, rushed to the community and stopped the festival earlier planned for seven days.

Adesola and members of the command’s top management team, including the deputy commissioner of police (Operations), DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi and other senior officers, reportedly stop the festival to ease tension in the community.

At the meeting, the CP engaged key stakeholders, including the chairman of Isoko North LGA, Hon.  Godwin Ogorugba, the president-general of Ozoro Community, Chief Berkley Asiafa, NANS zonal coordinator (South-South), Comrade Victor Ogechukwu, and the SUG president, Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Oribelua Precious, among others.

They allegedly agreed that the festival should not continue owing to the nationwide outrage that trailed it.

The traditional ruler, HRM Barr. Anthony Ogbogbo, Ibuka I, the Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, condemned the incident in strong terms, stressing that no girl child should be subjected to such an experience.

He further directed that no festival or gathering should be held in the Kingdom without prior recourse to the Palace for proper guidance, to prevent a recurrence.

The monarch also commended the state government for its support and emphasised that all those involved must be arrested and prosecuted.

However, LEADERSHIP source disclosed that the Commissioner of Police stated that the visit was prompted by the troubling incident and stressed that the Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) is deeply concerned.

He described the development as an embarrassment to the LGA, the state, and the country, and assured that the command will not relent until all those involved are arrested and prosecuted.

Another reason was that most of the female students in the community are scared, especially when they were told that the festival is meant to last for seven days, adding that anxiety remains high among residents and students, with uncertainty surrounding the duration of the festival and the possibility of further violence.

A student leader, who does not want to be mentioned described the situation as tense and frightening. “Many left early in the morning, and others were still seen leaving up to this evening. Some university students were among those who participated in the assaults.

“It is not only the indigenes who participated in the molestation. Some students also took part in it, and that is the most painful part. It speaks to the level of decadence in our society, the education system and human behaviour as a whole,” he said.

But the CP who paid a courtesy call on the traditional ruler where he briefed the monarch on the progress of the ongoing investigation assured residents, particularly students, that proactive measures are being strengthened to prevent a recurrence across the state, and commended the students for their restraint and maturity in adopting dialogue over protest.

Even though the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Bright Edafe, defended it as a strategic fact-finding and confidence-building visit to the community by the Commissioner of Police, he said the Command has zero-tolerance on all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

The CP reiterated that the Command maintains an active Gender Desk at the state headquarters for handling cases of sexual and gender-based violence and encouraged victims to utilise the facility with assurance of confidentiality.

The Command condemned the incident in totality and reassured the public of its unwavering commitment to ensuring justice and maintaining public safety while urging members of the public to provide credible information to aid ongoing investigations.

Chairman Isoko North LGA, Hon. Godwin Ogorugba, who earlier refuted the alleged rape described the incident as unfortunate, clarifying that there is no such thing as a “rape festival” in Ozoro but a cultural event that was mismanaged and hijacked by criminal elements.