ActionAid Nigeria has denounced the alleged abuse of women and girls during a recent cultural festival in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, urging authorities to move quickly against those involved.
In a statement released on Friday, the organisation’s Country Director, Dr Andrew Mamedu, described the reported incidents as “disturbing,” saying they exposed a serious failure to protect the safety and dignity of women and girls in a public setting.
Videos circulating online allegedly show women and girls being chased, harassed, and assaulted during the event, sparking outrage.
Mamedu insisted that “violence against women and girls must never be trivialised, justified, or explained away under any circumstance,” stressing that cultural arguments must not be used to excuse abuse.
He said the incident highlights deeper societal problems, where harmful norms, silence, and weak accountability continue to enable violence against women and girls.
ActionAid called on Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to order security agencies to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible, while also making public the actions taken.
The group further appealed to both the Federal and Delta State Ministries of Women Affairs to ensure survivors receive proper support, including medical treatment, psychosocial care, legal aid, and secure reporting channels.
Mamedu added that tackling gender-based violence requires sustained commitment from institutions, communities, and leaders, while urging the Ozoro kingdom to reassess cultural practices that put women and girls at risk.
