By George Ozalla
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for the arrest and prosecution of individuals allegedly involved in cases of sexual violence reported during the Alue-Do cultural festival in Ozoro, Delta State, describing the incident as unacceptable and a serious violation of human dignity.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, strongly condemned the reported abuses, noting that they represent a gross infringement on the privacy, safety and fundamental rights of women and girls affected. He stressed that no cultural practice should be allowed to override constitutional guarantees of dignity, freedom of movement, non-discrimination and fair hearing.
Dr. Ojukwu said any tradition that enables or normalises sexual harassment stands in direct conflict with principles of justice, equity and good conscience, adding that such practices must either be urgently reformed to align with human rights standards or discontinued entirely.
He further stated that cultural festivals and traditional events are required to operate within the ambit of existing laws, including the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, which prohibit all forms of abuse, degrading treatment and violence, particularly against women and girls.
The NHRC executive secretary also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under international and regional human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Maputo Protocol and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which collectively mandate the protection of women and girls from violence and discrimination.
He urged law enforcement authorities to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all those involved, including alleged perpetrators, organisers of the festival, traditional actors and any accomplices, stressing that accountability is necessary to deter future occurrences and reinforce the rule of law.
The Commission commended the Nigeria Police Force for the arrest of some suspects in connection with the incident, while calling for a thorough, independent and transparent investigation to ensure diligent prosecution and justice for victims.
Dr. Ojukwu noted that the development is a painful setback in ongoing national efforts to address sexual and gender-based violence, describing it as a reminder of past tragic cases that underline the need for stronger protection systems and sustained justice for victims.
The NHRC reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of human rights, particularly those of women and girls, and urged relevant authorities, community leaders and stakeholders to take proactive measures to prevent a recurrence of such violations while closely monitoring the prosecution process to ensure justice is served.
