23/03/2026
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE FOUNDER, WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND LEGAL AID (WELA), CONDEMNING REPORTED SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE ABOLITION OF THE OZORO “RAPING FESTIVAL” IN DELTA STATE
Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) strongly condemns the deeply disturbing acts of sexual violence reportedly taking place in Ozoro, Delta State, as evidenced by videos and accounts currently circulating online.
We unequivocally denounce the so-called “Raping Festival” held in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, which has allegedly become a breeding ground for molestation, sexual assault, and the r**e of innocent women and girls. This is not a celebration of culture; it is a blatant violation of human dignity and a crime against humanity. It must be abolished without delay.
We call on the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, to immediately investigate these allegations, apprehend all perpetrators, and ensure that both participants and organizers are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The Ministry of Women Affairs must also rise to its constitutional responsibility to protect women and children by ensuring that such a disgraceful event is permanently banned.
Furthermore, we urge legal advocacy bodies such as the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the NBA Women Forum, Delta State Chapter, to lend their voices and take decisive advocacy steps. Women deserve safety, respect, and justice - not exploitation under the guise of entertainment.
This is a clarion call: the time for decisive action is now. The lives, dignity, and future of our women and girls must be protected at all costs.
What is being depicted is not culture.
It is not tradition.
It is violence.
R**e is a crime under Nigerian law and a gross violation of human rights. No custom, festival, or communal practice can justify the violation of women and girls.
We are particularly alarmed by reports suggesting that such acts may be occurring within a communal setting, with an apparent level of acceptance or silence that enables these violations to continue.
We therefore call for immediate and decisive action from:
- The Delta State Government
- The Nigeria Police Force
- The National Human Rights Commission
- The Federal and State Ministries of Women Affairs
1. Launch an urgent investigation into these incidents in Ozoro and ensure that all individuals involved are identified and severely punished.
2. Guarantee the immediate safety and protection of women and girls.
3. Provide comprehensive medical, legal, and psychological support for survivors.
4. Identify, arrest, and prosecute all perpetrators without delay.
We also call on members of the public:
- Do not normalise violence.
- Do not excuse abuse as culture.
- Speak up and support survivors.
To every woman and girl affected:
We see you.
We hear you.
We stand with you.
You deserve justice.
The dignity, safety, and bodily autonomy of women are non-negotiable.
Any society that permits a r**e festival or violence against women under any guise must be held accountable.
Enough is enough.
**eCulture
Funmi Falana SAN, FCIArb.
