Sacred Tradition or Sexual Violence? Delta Fertility Festival Ends in Mass Arrests After Women Attacked

A fertility celebration in Ozoro has sparked outrage across Nigeria after disturbing footage emerged showing women being forcibly undressed and sexually violated by male attendees. The incident occurred during the Alue-do traditional ceremony in Isoko North, Delta State, where viral social media videos captured the attacks.

Law enforcement officials have taken Chief Omorede Sunday, who serves as the ceremony’s spiritual leader, into custody alongside multiple community officials from Oramudhu. Authorities cite two major violations: proceeding with the gathering without notifying local traditional leadership and failing to prevent the sexual assaults that unfolded during the event.

Delta State officials have issued a strong rebuke, describing the attacks as primitive and unacceptable. The government has imposed an immediate prohibition on future iterations of the festival while investigators work to identify additional suspects. Public pressure continues to mount for criminal charges against everyone involved in the violence.