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Panic has gripped Ozoro community, headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area in Delta State, following reports of assaults on women and female students during the traditional Alue-Do Festival.
Many students reportedly left the area, fearing further attacks.
The unrest followed viral videos showing young women being chased, stripped, and assaulted by groups of youths during the festival, sparking widespread outrage across the country.
A student leader in the community said many female students, still traumatised by the incident, began leaving to avoid being caught in additional violence.
“Most of the female students in the community are scared, especially when they were told that the festival is meant to last for seven days. Many left early this morning, and others were still seen leaving up to this evening,” the source told Punch.
He added that the atmosphere in the community remained tense, with anxiety growing among residents and students due to uncertainty over the festival’s duration and the possibility of repeated incidents.
The student leader also alleged that some university students were involved in the harassment.
“It is not only the indigenes who participated in the molestation. Some students also took part in it, and that is the most painful part. It speaks to the level of decadence in our society, the education system and human behaviour as a whole,” he said.
He called for all perpetrators to be treated as “common criminals,” regardless of status, and urged the authorities to arrest and prosecute them.
While no case of rape has been confirmed, some victims were reportedly taken to hospitals for treatment of assault.
“Sexual assault is a serious offence, and it desecrates the dignity of our women. We will not condone that,” the student leader said.
The Delta State Police Command has arrested 11 additional suspects in connection with the assault, bringing the total in custody to 15.
Earlier, police had arrested a community head, Omorede Sunday, and four others.
