NBA Condemns Ozoro Festival Assault on Women, Demands Prosecution of Culprits
The Nigerian Bar Association has issued a powerful condemnation of the sexual assault and public harassment of women that occurred during a recent festival in Ozoro, Delta State. The association described the incident as a national disgrace and a renewed form of gender-based violence that must be addressed with urgency and severity.
Viral Videos Reveal Shocking Incidents
Viral videos circulating widely on various social media platforms depict disturbing scenes where women were accosted in broad daylight. The footage shows women being forcefully stripped of their clothing, sexually assaulted, and subjected to degrading treatment by groups of young men. Shockingly, onlookers watched, recorded the incidents, and in some cases, even cheered the perpetrators, highlighting a troubling complicity in the violence.
NBA's Strong Statement
In a statement jointly signed by the President of the association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and the Chairperson of the NBA Women’s Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, released on Saturday, the NBA expressed profound outrage. The association emphasized that the acts where women were chased, stripped, groped, violated, and publicly humiliated by mobs under the guise of celebration do not represent culture. Instead, they described it as "a collapse of conscience and a stain on our shared humanity."
The NBA firmly stated that no woman should ever have to endure such terror, exposure, or violation of her dignity. "This was not a festival. This was lawlessness. This was gender-based violence in its most primitive and shameful form," the association declared, underscoring the gravity of the offenses.
Legal and Human Rights Violations
The association noted that these acts constitute a grave violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), as well as other international human rights instruments. Specifically, they infringe upon the rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, and security, which are cornerstones of legal protection in Nigeria.
Calls for Swift Action and Accountability
The NBA urged the Delta State Government and all relevant law enforcement agencies to act swiftly and decisively in bringing the perpetrators to justice. It further called for accountability not only for the direct perpetrators but also for those who aided, enabled, or failed to intervene during the assaults. "Justice must not be delayed, and it must not be selective. Silence, indifference, or excuses in the face of such brutality only embolden further abuse," the statement warned, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive response.
Appeal to Community Leaders and Organizers
Additionally, the NBA urged community leaders, traditional institutions, and festival organizers to take urgent responsibility by reviewing their actions during festival periods. It cautioned that cultural celebrations must never become theatres of violence but should instead reflect dignity, order, and respect for human life. The association stressed that the protection of women is not optional but a legal duty and a moral obligation that tests the character of society.
"Nigeria must not become a place where women live in fear of being stripped of both their clothing and their dignity in public spaces. This must never happen again!" the NBA concluded, issuing a stern warning against future occurrences and calling for collective action to safeguard women's rights and safety.
