NBA Denounces Sexual Assault on Women During Delta Festival

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a statement condemning the recent sexual assault of women at a festival in Delta State, labeling it a "national disgrace."

Footage circulating on social media depicted men harassing young women who participated in the festival.

Reports indicate that these incidents took place during the Alue-Do Festival in the Uruamudhu Community, one of the five communities within the Ozoro Kingdom.

In a statement released on Saturday, which was co-signed by NBA President Afam Osigwe and Huwaila Muhammad, the Chairperson of the NBA Women’s Forum, the association referred to the events as a "national disgrace" and indicative of a moral decline and a breach of human rights.

"The character of a society is revealed by how it treats its women. When women are chased, stripped, and assaulted in public under the guise of celebration, what is showcased is not culture but barbarity—a collapse of moral conscience and a mark of shame on our shared humanity,” the statement asserted.

The association further expressed deep concern over the appalling reports emerging from the festival in Ozoro, describing the incidents as not just distressing but horrifying. Women were reportedly attacked in broad daylight, forcibly undressed, sexually assaulted, and subjected to humiliating treatment by groups of young men, while others observed, filmed, and, in some cases, cheered on the assault.

"No woman should endure such terror, humiliation, or violation of her dignity. This was not a celebration; it was lawlessness manifesting as gender-based violence in its most primitive and repugnant form,” the NBA declared.

The declarative statement emphasized that these heinous acts represent a severe infringement of fundamental human rights, including the right to dignity, personal liberty, and security as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria, alongside various international human rights treaties. Moreover, these actions constitute serious criminal offenses, including charges of assault, sexual violence, and public indecency.

The NBA condemned these acts in the strongest terms, asserting that no tradition or cultural practice can justify the degradation or victimization of women. “Any custom that allows for such brutal treatment cannot be regarded as culture,” it stated.

“It is an affront to legality. We urge the Delta State Government and all relevant law enforcement agencies to take immediate and firm action. The individuals responsible must be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted accordingly,” the statement continued.

It called for accountability not only for the perpetrators but also for those who facilitated, enabled, or failed to stop the crimes. The NBA stressed that justice should not be delayed or biased; complacency, indifference, or rationalizations in response to such violence will only encourage further acts of abuse.

Further, the NBA called upon community leaders, traditional authorities, and festival organizers to take swift action to prevent cultural celebrations from devolving into arenas of violence. "Such events must embody dignity, order, and respect for human life, rather than disorder and cruelty,” it insisted.

"The safeguarding of women is not an option; it is a legal and moral responsibility. The treatment of women in our society reflects who we are as a people. Nigeria must not be a country where women fear the possibility of being stripped of both their clothing and dignity in public spaces. This must never reoccur!"

In response to the situation, the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of a community leader and several suspects linked to the incidents. They also stated that a comprehensive investigation is underway, assuring the public that all involved parties will be brought to justice.