The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly denounced the sexual assault of several women during a local festival in Ozoro, Delta State, describing the incident as a “national disgrace.”
Viral videos on social media showed groups of men harassing young women who attended the event, subjecting them to disturbing treatment in public. The incident reportedly took place during the Alue-Do Festival in Uruamudhu Community, one of the five communities that make up the Ozoro Kingdom.
In a statement issued on Saturday, NBA President Afam Osigwe and Chairperson of the NBA Women’s Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, condemned the act as a gross violation of human rights and a reflection of societal failure. They stressed that any environment where women are chased, stripped, assaulted, and humiliated under the guise of celebration is not a display of culture but a sign of barbarity and moral collapse.
The association described the reports from the festival as deeply disturbing, noting that women were allegedly attacked in broad daylight, forcefully stripped, and subjected to degrading treatment while bystanders watched, filmed, and in some cases encouraged the abuse.
According to the NBA, such actions violate fundamental rights to dignity, personal liberty, and security as guaranteed under Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights laws. The acts, they added, also amount to serious criminal offences, including assault, sexual violence, and public indecency.
The NBA called for swift and decisive action from the Delta State Government and law enforcement agencies, urging them to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible. It also insisted that anyone who enabled or failed to intervene should be held accountable, warning that silence or inaction could encourage further abuse.
The association further urged community leaders, traditional institutions, and festival organisers to take responsibility, emphasizing that cultural events should uphold dignity and respect rather than become platforms for violence.
It concluded by stressing that protecting women is both a legal and moral obligation, warning that Nigeria must not become a society where women fear public humiliation and abuse.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of a community leader and several other suspects linked to the incident. Authorities say investigations are ongoing and have assured the public that all those involved will be brought to justice.
