ActionAid Nigeria has condemned reported incidents of violence against women and girls during a recent cultural festival in Ozoro, Delta State, describing the development as a grave violation of safety and dignity.
In a statement signed by its Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, the organisation said video evidence circulating on social media showed women and girls being harassed, chased and assaulted in public, raising concerns over the failure to guarantee protection in communal spaces.
ActionAid Nigeria rejected attempts in some quarters to downplay the incidents or interpret them as part of cultural practices, stressing that violence against women and girls must not be trivialised or justified under any circumstance.
According to the organisation, the incident reflects deeper systemic issues of gender-based violence, where harmful norms, silence and weak enforcement enable such abuses to persist.
It stated that no cultural festival or traditional belief should be used to excuse or conceal violence, calling for all individuals involved to be identified and prosecuted through a transparent process.
The group urged the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to take immediate action by directing security agencies to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators, while ensuring public disclosure of steps taken, including arrests and prosecution outcomes.
It also called for accountability from security agencies over alleged lapses that allowed the incidents to occur without timely intervention, noting that their mandate should include proactive measures to prevent harm.
ActionAid Nigeria further appealed to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs to provide coordinated, survivor-centred support for affected women and girls, including access to medical care, psychosocial services, legal assistance and safe reporting channels.
The organisation emphasised the need for sustained efforts to address gaps in safeguarding women and girls in public and cultural spaces, urging authorities and community leaders in Ozoro Kingdom to review practices that may endanger women.
ActionAid Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the rights, safety and dignity of women and girls, expressing solidarity with those affected by the incident.
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