UN Envoy Amb. Zino Lexili Ogazi Condemns Ozoro 'Rape Festival' as Crime Against Humanity
Amb. Zino Lexili Ogazi, the International Youth Network (IYN) Special Envoy for the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (UNSCR 2250) in West Africa, has issued a powerful condemnation of reported sexual violence against women in Ozoro, Delta State, Nigeria. In a high-level official statement released on Saturday, March 21, 2026, she labeled the practices a "crime against humanity" and called for an immediate end to what has been described as a "Rape Festival."
Strong Words Against Barbaric Practices
From her regional office, Amb. Zino Lexili Ogazi, also known as Queen Zee Adaeze Ohemaa Yaa Asantewaa, expressed deep outrage at the events. "I am appalled that in 2026, we are still debating the 'cultural' right of men to hunt women like animals," she stated emphatically. "There is no tradition on earth that justifies the desecration of a woman's body. When you violate a woman, you commit a murder of the spirit."
The Envoy directly challenged the Nigerian Federal Government and Delta State authorities to move beyond mere rhetoric and ensure the immediate prosecution of all perpetrators captured in viral footage of the incidents. She emphasized that justice must be swift and uncompromising.
Call for Local and International Action
Amb. Ogazi did not mince words when addressing the local leadership in Ozoro, questioning the silence of traditional authorities. "To the Ovie, the Chiefs, and the Elders: If you sat in your homes and palaces while women were being hunted in your streets and stripped of their dignity... you are not leaders: you are enablers," she declared.
Furthermore, she is formally calling upon the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to investigate these practices as violations of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. The Envoy also urged the Nigerian Diaspora to use their global platforms to ensure this crisis is not ignored under the guise of local tradition.
"The world is watching," Amb. Ogazi noted. "We call on the Diaspora to amplify the cries of these women until the Nigerian government fulfills its duty to protect its citizens." This statement highlights growing international scrutiny under the framework of UNSCR 2250, which focuses on Youth, Peace, and Security.
Clear Demands for Justice and Protection
The Envoy's office has laid out a clear mandate for Nigerian authorities, demanding:
- The total and immediate abolition of the "Rape Festival" and all associated barbaric practices.
- The arrest and prosecution of every individual identified in social media footage.
- Stronger state protection for women's rights, ensuring culture is never used as a shield for violence.
Amb. Ogazi confirmed that her office is monitoring legal proceedings with unwavering scrutiny, warning that a failure to prosecute would be a "confession that there is no justice in this land." She concluded with a powerful message: "Culture is a crown, not a weapon. We will not stop until every perpetrator is behind bars."
This condemnation comes amid increasing global attention to human rights abuses in Nigeria, with Amb. Zino Lexili Ogazi positioning herself as a vocal advocate for justice and the protection of women's dignity in the region.
