@Mrs Badejo-Okusanya
I have received with deep outrage and profound concern the disturbing reports of harassment and sexual assaults perpetrated against women during the recent Ozoro Festival in Delta State.
I join the Delta State Government and all well-meaning Nigerians in unequivocally condemning these barbaric acts. No culture, tradition, or festival, no matter how historic or revered, can justify the violation of the dignity, bodily integrity, and fundamental rights of any individual. What has been described is not culture; it is criminality of the gravest kind.
It is particularly troubling that such acts could occur in an organized setting, suggesting not only individual wrongdoing but a systemic failure of oversight. Those who had responsibility, whether as organizers, community leaders, or institutional actors, and failed to put in place adequate safeguards must be called to account. Silence, indifference, or negligence in the face of such abuses is complicity.
I call on the Nigeria Police Force and all relevant security agencies to act with urgency and resolve. The perpetrators of these heinous acts must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted without delay. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done. Anything less would send a dangerous signal that violence against women can be excused under the guise of communal celebration.
This incident also underscores a broader, uncomfortable truth: the persistent vulnerability of women in public and communal spaces. We must confront this reality with seriousness, not platitudes. Festival organizers across the country must henceforth be held to strict standards of accountability, including the implementation of clear safety protocols and preventive measures.
To the survivors of these reprehensible acts, I extend my solidarity. Your pain is neither invisible nor insignificant, and your right to justice must be upheld with unwavering commitment.
Nigeria cannot claim progress while half its population remains at risk in spaces meant for celebration and community. We must, collectively and decisively, draw a firm line: violence against women, in any form and under any pretext, will not be tolerated.
Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN
Mrs. B
“Be Bold”
