Update: Police Arrest Ozoro Festival Organiser, Four Others Over Gang Rape of Women
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Summary: Police have arrested the chief organiser of the Alue-Do Festival, Chief Omorede Sunday, and four other suspects in connection with the rape and assault of women in Ozoro, Delta State, on March 20, 2026. The festival has also been abolished.
The Delta State Police has arrested the chief organiser of the Alue-Do Festival in Ozoro, Delta State, Chief Omorede Sunday, and four other suspects from Oruamudhu quarters, in connection with the rape and assault of women during the festival.
On March 19, 2026, men in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, gangraped and assaulted women and girls on the streets and in their homes during the Alue-Do Festival.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrests on March 20, 2026, on his X page, writing, “The community head and chief organiser of the event, one Chief Omorede Sunday and four other suspects from Oramudu quarters in Ozoro have been arrested.” He said.
“The CP has ordered that they should be transferred to State CID with immediate effect. The CP vows that anyone involved will be arrested and brought to justice.”
Subsequently, on March 20, 2026, a delegation comprising student leaders, the Student Union Government, the Dean of Student Affairs of Southern Delta University, and representatives of the Delta State Association of Institutions of Higher Learning visited the Ozoro Kingdom for a fact-finding mission.
They also visited victims at the hospital and met with the King of Ozoro Kingdom, who assured students of their safety and committed to maintaining direct communication with the student body going forward. The festival has since been formally abolished, and the King stated that anyone found harassing students would be treated as a perpetrator of the law and brought to justice immediately.
