Horror in Ozoro: the community is in a panic as the students flee for fear of new attacks

Tension has gripped Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area of ​​Delta State, as local university students and residents flee the community following violent attacks during a traditional festival.

The panic comes in the wake of the controversial “Alue-Do” festival, during which viral videos showed groups of youths chasing, stripping and assaulting women, an incident that sparked nationwide outrage and condemnation.

Fears of further attacks were reported to have triggered a mass exodus of female students, many of whom suddenly left the area to avoid being trapped in what they described as a tense and dangerous environment.

A student leader in the community confirmed the development, noting that anxiety remains high as uncertainty surrounds the duration of the festival, which is reportedly expected to last seven days.

“Most of the students are scared. Many left early this morning, others continued to leave until the evening,” the source said.

He added that the situation remains unstable, with fears that similar incidents could happen again if urgent action is not taken.

The student leader also said that some university students were among those involved in the attacks, describing the situation as deeply worrying.

“It was not only the indigenous people who participated in the harassment. Some students also took part in it. This is the most painful part,” he said, condemning the act as evidence of growing social degradation.

He insisted that all those involved, regardless of status, must be treated as criminals and brought to justice.

While clarifying that no confirmed case of rape had been recorded, he revealed that some victims sustained injuries and were treated in hospital following the attacks.

“Sexual violence is a serious crime. It destroys dignity and must not be tolerated,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command intensified the crackdown, arresting 11 more suspects, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to 15.

Earlier, a community leader, Omorede Sunday, and four others were arrested in connection with the incident.

Police public relations officer Bright Edafe confirmed the arrests followed intelligence gathering and analysis of footage linked to the attack.

He said the officers of the CP Special Task Team acted on the directive of the Police Commissioner, Aina Adesola.

According to him, preliminary findings indicate that criminal elements exploited the festival to perpetrate acts of sexual violence, stressing that such actions do not represent any recognized cultural practice.

“The police commissioner condemns these acts in their entirety and assures that all those involved will be identified, arrested and prosecuted,” Edafe said.

The incident, captured on widely circulated videos, continued to spark outrage across the country, with several groups and institutions condemning the attack as barbaric and unacceptable.

The Nigerian Bar Association described the incident as a national disgrace, saying violence against women, in any form, cannot be justified.

The association, in a statement by its president, Afam Osigwe, and the president of the Women’s Forum, Huwaila Muhammad, said the treatment of women in this way reflects the moral state of the society.

“Where women are chased, stripped, raped and publicly humiliated under the guise of partying, what is on display is not culture but barbarism,” the NBA said.

Similarly, the Nigerian Federation of Business and Professional Women has called for the suspension of traditional rulers in the community, citing failure to prevent violence.

The group also called for the creation of an independent committee to investigate the incident and identify all those responsible.

‘

Want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need advertising for a product, service or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com

We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Please donate any amount HERE