A growing controversy surrounding a traditional festival in Delta State, Nigeria, has ignited nationwide outrage, with women’s rights groups demanding the swift government intervention over what they describe as “institutionalised rape culture,” after disturbing reports and viral footage of sexual violence flooded social media. However, community members have pushed back, insisting the event is being dangerously misrepresented and distorted in public discourse.
The dispute centres on the Aluedor (also called Alue-Do) festival in Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area in Delta State, after disturbing videos circulated online showing women being chased, stripped, and sexually assaulted in broad daylight.
A coalition of more than 500 civil society groups under Womanifesto has condemned what it described as a pattern of “organised and institutionalised sexual violence” carried out under the guise of cultural practice.
In a statement signed by co-convener Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the group said eyewitness accounts and viral footage point to serious human rights violations.
“This is not our culture. This is organised, institutionalised rape culture, and it must be named as such,” the statement said.
“No tradition, deity, or community authority has the right to suspend the bodily autonomy of women.”
The coalition argued that such acts violate Nigeria’s Constitution and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, stressing that threats of violence or restrictions on women’s movement amount to criminal offenses.
Womanifesto called for immediate government intervention, including the deployment of security forces, arrests of suspects seen in viral footage, and public assurances from federal authorities that no cultural practice supersedes the law.
The group also urged traditional leaders in Ozoro to publicly denounce any interpretation of the festival that permits violence against women.
Disturbing Footage Sparks Outrage
The Noble Delta Women for Peace and Development (NDWPD) echoed those concerns, describing the reported incidents as “reprehensible” and a gross violation of human rights.
In a statement signed by Anita Igwala, the organization said multiple victims—including students of Southern Delta University in Ozoro—required medical attention following the incident.
“Assault, harassment, and dehumanization of women under any guise is wholly unacceptable,” the group said, while expressing solidarity with victims and their families.
However, NDWPD also rejected claims that the festival itself promotes sexual violence.
“There is no such thing as an ‘Ozoro rape festival,’” the statement said. “Any individuals who used the event as cover to assault women have desecrated the tradition and committed criminal acts.”
The group called for a full investigation and prosecution of perpetrators, alongside a broader review of cultural practices that may expose women to harm.
Community Pushback
Amid mounting criticism, residents and community figures in Ozoro have strongly denied that the festival endorses or encourages sexual violence.
Speaking to reporters, local indigene Comrade Lucky Agelive described the Aluedor festival as a rare and sacred fertility rite, sometimes held only once in a decade, primarily within a specific clan.
According to him, the ritual involves symbolic acts—such as pouring sand on the abdomen—intended to invoke fertility blessings for women seeking children.
Agelive said the festival is not community-wide and that prior announcements traditionally advise women to remain indoors during the ritual period.
While condemning the scenes shown in viral videos, he rejected allegations of rape, acknowledging instead that cases of molestation may have occurred.
He attributed the violence to “outsiders and miscreants” who allegedly exploited the gathering.
A non-indigene resident, Faith Oghenevoke, also described the festival as historically non-violent, saying she had lived in the community for years without witnessing such incidents.
She characterized the behaviour captured in the footage as the actions of “a group of unruly youths,” rather than a reflection of the cultural practice itself.
Arrests and Calls for Accountability
According to residents, security agencies have arrested at least 11 suspects in connection with the incident, though authorities have yet to release an official statement confirming the figures.
Traditional leaders, including the Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, have reportedly distanced the community from the alleged abuses.
Community representatives are now urging the public to avoid what they describe as “misleading narratives,” while supporting calls for a thorough investigation.
A Broader Debate
The controversy has reignited a wider debate in Nigeria over the intersection of culture, gender rights, and accountability.
Women’s rights advocates argue that cultural practices must evolve and align with modern legal and human rights standards.
“Culture must never be used as a shield for violence,” NDWPD said. “Any tradition that endangers women’s dignity does not deserve protection.”
As investigations continue, pressure is mounting on authorities to deliver justice, and to determine whether the events in Ozoro represent isolated criminal acts or a deeper systemic issue.
