The fertility festival in Ozoro, Delta State, which was expected to be an interesting cultural gathering, ended up in chaos, agony, and trauma after reports surfaced that some women were assaulted during the celebrations.
This incident has sparked widespread condemnation across the state.
In a swift response, the Delta State Government officially banned the festival and described the incident as “deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” while stressing that “such acts have no place in any society, let alone during a cultural festival meant to unite people.”
The government further assured the public that steps were being taken to prevent a recurrence, including a review of security arrangements at public events.
Victim’s Account
One of the victims, Miss Ezeugo Ijeoma Rosemary, a 300-level student of Library and Information Science at Southern Delta University, Ozoro, is still traumatized by the incident and narrated her harrowing experience to Saturday Vanguard by phone.
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“I am from Imo State but reside in Warri. On that day, at about 5pm I went to pick up my power bank unknown to me that they were holding their festival because it was not announced,” she explained.
Rosemary described how the situation turned violent the moment she arrived at a junction near her school. “Immediately I came down from the bike, a lot of boys from different directions started shouting that they should hold me. ‘Hold her, hold her, na girl she be’, they said, so I tried to escape but they swooped on me like bees,” she recalled.
As the mob surrounded her, the physical assault intensified. “The crowd was much and they started harassing me, pulling my clothes. They eventually tore my clothes until they stripped me naked. They were manhandling me, pulling my breasts and touching my whole body. They also took my phone,” she stated.
She noted that a bystander eventually intervened as she cried out. “One boy later came to my rescue as I was shouting for help. I was alone and the incident happened at a junction close to my school. The festival was not held at Gwake where I went to charge my power bank,” she added.
Regarding her current condition and the ongoing investigation, Rosemary said, “I am getting better but feeling pains in my chest and breasts. On Sunday, I was told that the Commissioner of Police wanted to see me, so I went with my dad and our lawyer to Ozoro.”
She continued, “At the King’s palace I was questioned and asked to go to A Division to write my statement. I was also asked to list the items that I lost during the incident which I did. The school management has not told me anything but I will be going back to school next month because I am still in trauma.”
