Ozoro Festival Assault: A Call to Action Against Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria
I went to bed last night with a deeply disturbing video that I cannot shake from my mind. The footage shows a young woman, visibly shaken and holding onto her torn clothes after reportedly being assaulted at the Ozoro Festival in Delta State, Nigeria. She was seen begging to be released from a terrifying situation that should never have occurred in any public space.
A Painful Echo of the Past
Watching that distressing video brought back painful memories of the 2011 ABSU rape incident, where a young woman was brutally assaulted by a group of men. That case sparked national outrage, widespread protests, and significant advocacy efforts across Nigeria. I remember that period vividly—I was heavily pregnant at the time, yet I joined others to speak out because it mattered deeply.
Over the years, I have been actively involved in advocacy against sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria. Through the Walk Against Rape Campaign, we mobilized women, allies, and entire communities to demand accountability, raise awareness, and push for safer spaces for women and girls. We marched, we spoke, we engaged institutions, and we insisted that these critical issues could not be ignored or minimized.
The Unacceptable Pattern Continues
It is profoundly disheartening that more than a decade later, we are still confronted with incidents that reflect the same patterns of violence, silence, and attempted justification. This raises difficult but absolutely necessary questions about accountability, law enforcement, and the true value placed on the safety and dignity of women in our society.
We must not allow that destructive cycle of violence, silence, and inaction to repeat itself. What reportedly happened at the Ozoro Festival in Delta State is not something to explain away or minimize through cultural justifications. It represents a grave violation of human rights. It is violence in its most direct form. And it demands urgent and decisive action from all responsible authorities.
A Direct Call for Accountability
I call on the Delta State Government to immediately launch a thorough, transparent investigation into this incident and provide clear, public assurance that justice will be served without compromise. The safety of women in public spaces cannot be negotiable, and silence or delay only deepens the harm experienced by victims.
The victims must be able to come forward without fear, knowing they will be protected, heard, and supported—not silenced or blamed for their presence at a public event. I urge His Excellency, Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State, to ensure that those responsible are identified and held fully accountable under the law, and that appropriate measures are implemented to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
Rejecting Dangerous Narratives
Equally concerning are attempts by some individuals to justify or downplay this act of violence. Such narratives are dangerous and must not be tolerated in any civilized society. No woman should ever be blamed for simply being present at a public festival or event. This is not a moment for silence or complacency.
This incident represents a critical test of leadership, accountability, and the value placed on the lives and dignity of women in Nigeria. We cannot normalize this violence. We cannot look away when such violations occur. Justice must not only be done—it must be seen to be done, clearly and without compromise, to send a powerful message that gender-based violence will not be tolerated.
Standing with the Women of Ozoro
My heart is with every woman and girl in Ozoro and across Nigeria who has experienced such trauma. They deserve justice. They deserve dignity. They deserve to be heard and protected. We cannot allow history to repeat itself. We demand justice now, and we will continue to advocate until meaningful change occurs.
Esther Ijewere is a Media Advocate and Women’s Rights Activist who serves as Convener of the Walk Against Rape Campaign in Nigeria. She is currently based in Canada.
