Delta State Police have clarified that the Alue-Do festival in Ozoro is a cultural event focused on prayers for women seeking children, not a “rape festival” as some reports suggested.
Police spokesperson Bright Edafe stated on Monday during The Morning Brief that no victims have come forward alleging rape in connection with the festival. According to Edafe, interviews with four girls who attended the event did not reveal any claims of sexual assault.
“Up to this moment, we have not received any official report that anybody was raped,” Edafe said, noting that the ongoing investigation relies on available evidence and witness accounts.
He explained that the festival is a fertility rite led by a chief priest and is intended solely to support women seeking to conceive, emphasizing that it is not designed to promote sexual violence.
Edafe confirmed that 16 individuals are currently in police custody. Initially, the chief priest and four others were arrested, while 11 more were later identified through video footage. All suspects have been transferred to the State Command Headquarters for further investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department.
Police officers also visited the Ozoro and nearby Oramudu communities, where they met four potential victims. Edafe noted that the festival organisers failed to inform key stakeholders—including the traditional ruler, students’ union, school authorities, and the police—about the event.
The palace of the Ozoro Kingdom had earlier denied any harassment during the festival, stating such acts are inconsistent with local tradition. Similarly, the Delta State Government dismissed claims that any state festival condones sexual assault, assuring that those involved in the incident would face legal consequences.
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