The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the alleged sexual assault and public humiliation of women during a recent community festival in Ozoro, Delta State, describing the incident as a “national disgrace” and a serious moral failure.
In a statement issued on Saturday, NBA President Afam Osigwe and the Chairperson of the NBA Women’s Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, criticised the disturbing reports from the event.
According to the association, the incident revealed a troubling disregard for the dignity and safety of women.
“A society reveals its true character in how it treats its women. When women are chased, stripped, groped, violated and publicly humiliated under the guise of celebration, it is not culture but barbarity,” the statement read.
The NBA said reports from the festival indicated that several women were attacked in broad daylight by groups of young men who allegedly stripped them of their clothing, sexually assaulted them and subjected them to degrading treatment, while bystanders watched, recorded videos and in some cases cheered.
The association described the event as a clear case of lawlessness rather than a cultural celebration, stressing that such acts represent extreme forms of gender-based violence.
According to the NBA, the actions violate the fundamental rights guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), including the rights to dignity, personal liberty and security. It added that the conduct also amounts to serious criminal offences such as assault, sexual violence and public indecency.
The legal body emphasised that no cultural practice or tradition can justify the humiliation or abuse of women.
Calling for immediate action, the NBA urged the Delta State Government and law enforcement agencies to identify and arrest all perpetrators and ensure they are prosecuted.
The association also insisted that individuals who enabled the attack or failed to intervene should be held accountable.
The incident reportedly occurred during the controversial Alue-Do festival held on March 19 in Ozoro. Videos circulating on social media showed young women being chased, stripped and molested in public, triggering widespread outrage across the country.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that a community leader and several others had been arrested in connection with the incident, while investigations are ongoing.
The NBA concluded by warning that cultural festivals must promote dignity, respect and order rather than becoming platforms for violence.
