Police in Nigeria have arrested 15 individuals following viral videos showing alleged sexual assault during a community festival in Delta State.
The disturbing footage, recorded during the Alue-Do festival in Ozoro, shows groups of young men harassing and attacking women in public spaces. The clips triggered widespread outrage online, with the hashtag #StopRapingWomen trending and calls for accountability growing.
Authorities have rejected claims describing the event as a “rape festival.” Police spokesperson Bright Edafe told Channels TV that no formal rape complaints had been filed, though the scenes captured were described as “alarming, disgusting and embarrassing.”
Several suspects identified in the videos have been detained and transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, including a community leader reportedly linked to organising the event.
While police say initial interviews with some victims did not confirm rape, rights groups and activists argue that the acts shown — including public harassment and forced stripping — constitute serious gender-based violence under Nigerian law.
Traditional leaders, including the King of Ozoro, have denied that the Alue-Do festival condones such behaviour, stating it is a cultural fertility rite that was misused by some participants.
The Delta State government has also condemned the incidents, stressing that no recognised cultural event permits violence against women.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has strongly condemned the alleged assaults, urging law enforcement to ensure all perpetrators are prosecuted and encouraging victims to seek support.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
