Female Students Flee Ozoro After Rape Festival Assaults

Summary: Female students in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, are fleeing the community after women were publicly assaulted during the Alue-Do festival.

In Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, panic has gripped Ozoro following the assault of women during the controversial traditional festival. Female students, particularly those of Delta State University, reportedly fled the community over safety concerns.

The development follows the Alue-Do festival, where viral videos showed groups of males chasing, stripping, gangraping and assaulting young women in public, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for accountability.

It was reported that many female students, still traumatised by the incident and uncertain about their safety, have begun leaving the area to avoid possible fresh attacks. Residents also noted that fear intensified due to reports that the festival was expected to last for seven days, raising concerns about a potential recurrence of violence. 

The atmosphere in the community remains tense, with growing anxiety among residents and students as uncertainty persists.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command has arrested 11 additional suspects in connection with the assaults, bringing the total number of persons in custody to 15. The police had earlier arrested a community leader, Omorede Sunday, alongside four others over the incident.