The Delta State Police Command has dismissed claims that the controversial Alue-Do Festival in Ozoro was a “rape festival,” stating that no victim has officially reported rape in connection with the March 19 incident.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, made this known on Monday while featuring on Your View, a flagship programme on Television Continental, a private TV station.
Edafe explained that while videos from the festival showed cases of assault, there is currently no evidence or formal complaint indicating that rape occurred.
“As of now, the information available to us shows that nobody was raped. While some may argue that victims could be afraid to come forward, experience has shown that, over time, victims and their families do speak out,” he said.
He noted that increased awareness in Delta State has encouraged more survivors of sexual violence to report cases and seek justice, thereby aiding law enforcement in identifying and prosecuting offenders.
According to him, investigations are ongoing, with the police relying strictly on available evidence, including witness accounts and video footage.
“Our legal team is reviewing the case file and will determine the appropriate charges based on the evidence before us. If, at any point, additional witnesses come forward with claims of rape, such charges will be added,” he said.
Edafe disclosed that 16 suspects, including some community leaders, are currently in custody. He added that individuals who may not have directly participated in the assault could still face charges for failing to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
“The head of the community, the chief priest of Oramutu Quarters, and other elders involved in organising the festival are in custody along with other suspects. Everyone found culpable will be held accountable,” he said.
He stressed the importance of notifying security agencies ahead of large gatherings, noting that proper planning and deployment could help prevent such incidents.
“There is no such thing as a ‘rape festival’ in Delta State. Criminality must not be confused with culture. Those responsible are hoodlums who acted on their own and will be treated as criminals,” Edafe added.
He further clarified that the suspects arrested so far have not linked their actions to any directive from community leaders or festival organisers.
“The individuals involved acted independently. There is no evidence that the chief priest or any authority instructed them to harass women,” he said.
Edafe warned that such incidents, if not properly managed, could escalate beyond assault and potentially lead to fatalities.
“It could have been worse. That is why it is important to involve the police to ensure proper monitoring and prevent a breakdown of law and order,” he said.
The incident sparked nationwide outrage after viral videos showed groups of men harassing and assaulting women in broad daylight, prompting some social media users to describe it as a “rape festival.”
Condemning the attacks, the Delta State Government reiterated that cultural practices cannot be used to justify criminal acts.
In a separate interview on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, the President-General of the Ozoro Progress Union, Asiafa Berkeley, also denounced the actions of the youths involved.
Asiafa alleged that hoodlums were behind the sad incident, noting that they hijacked the festival shortly after the Chief priest of Uruamudhu quarters started his procession from the shrine where he had gone to appease the gods on behalf of the quarter.
He said: “There was no rape but women were molested during the festival in Uruamudhu quarters . The quarter has its own festival. They have a deity there called Aluedo. And the festival is named after it. Aluedo is a symbolic festival the inhabitants believe addresses challenges of barrenness among women.
Berkeley further rejected claims that the festival promotes sexual violence, explaining that it is traditionally meant for prayers, particularly for women seeking fertility.
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“The Chief priest prays for the women. The festival also brings progress to the area. The Chief priest goes to the farms of the people to offer prayers for a bountiful harvest during planting season. That day he finished all the rituals at the shrine and on his way back, which is the practice, between the hours of 4pm and 7pm, married women seeking fruit of the womb would come to him and he would pour sand from his bowl on them and announce to them that they would have their children.
“They don’t allow unmarried girls to partake in the festival. Only married women are allowed to come before the Chief priest. Also, women that want to be single mothers are also permitted to come before the Chief priest.
“Some hoodlums who heard that girls were not supposed to come out took it upon themselves to harass girls they found on the street.
“The bike man who carried a girl that evening protected her from being harassed when the youths tried to. Also, another girl, an indigene, who they harassed said she went to buy noddles. The boys saw her on a bike, chased her and even tore her clothes. I heard of it and rushed there with the vigilantes. We also invited the police. The boys fled. She was later escorted into one restaurant, Stop and Chop. I called security men and the local vigilante that came to rescue the situation. We couldn’t arrest anyone that night, they fled.
“I can categorically tell you that no girl was raped during the festival. Three of the girls came out when the Commissioner of Police was here two days ago. The police commissioner asked them to tell the truth off camera and they said they were molested but not raped. They were harassed. It is not an African thing to make love in the open. A third girl said they stole her money. She said they took N10,000 from her. These things started happening from about 6pm that day till around 8pm.”
He maintained that the actions captured in the viral videos were criminal acts by individuals and not part of the cultural practice.
Similarly, the President of the Students Union Government, SUG, Mr Oribelua Precious, has also said the union was still collating the number of students affected, adding that some of the girls alleged that their personal items were stolen in the process.
“About six of our female students have so far come forward to say they passed through molestation, they were sexually harassed. None of them was raped. They have gone back home. The school is not in session,” he said.
