Delta Police Arrest Festival Organizer, 4 Others Over Sexual Assaults

​The Delta State Police Command has apprehended five suspects, including a high-ranking community leader, following the viral broadcast of systemic sexual violence during the Ozoro festival.

​The arrests, confirmed on Friday by Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe, come in the wake of national outrage over footage showing groups of men hunting, stripping, and molesting women in public spaces. Among those in custody is Chief Omorede Sunday, identified as the community head and chief organizer of the event, alongside four other suspects from the Oramudu quarters of Ozoro.

​Commissioner of Police Aina Adesola has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), vowing that every individual captured in the “disgusting” footage will face the full weight of the law.

​The violence reportedly broke out on Thursday, March 19, during a traditional observance where women are historically pressured to remain indoors. Those found on the streets were targeted by mobs of young men who forcefully tore their clothing and subjected them to various forms of molestation. While some local reports suggest instances of rape, police officials noted that these specific claims remain under active investigation.

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​”No custom or tradition is superior to the rights of citizens,” SP Edafe stated, describing the incident as “barbaric and embarrassing” to the state.

​The Delta State Government has joined the condemnation, with Commissioner for Public Information Charles Aniagwu labeling the acts “heinous.” He called on security agencies to ensure that no perpetrator hides under the guise of “culture” to evade justice.

​The incident sparked a firestorm on social media, specifically on X (formerly Twitter), where the hashtag #StopRapingWomen trended throughout Friday. Activists and citizens alike have questioned how such systemic abuse could persist in modern society, calling for an end to traditions that infringe upon fundamental human rights.

​The police have urged any witnesses or victims to come forward to provide statements as the investigation expands to identify more participants seen in the viral videos.