BY EBI NIEKETIEN
THE National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Delta State Chapter, has condemned the rape incident linked to the Alue-Do festival in Uruamudhu Community, Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area, calling for the immediate prosecution of all suspects involved.
In a statement issued by the State Chairman, Comrade Milton Sagboje, the Council described the incident as criminal and unacceptable, stressing that no cultural practice in Delta State supports rape, molestation, or any form of sexual violence.
The Council rejected claims suggesting that the festival promotes or tolerates sexual abuse, clarifying that the cultural event was traditionally associated with blessings, fertility, peace, and symbolic rites for married women seeking childbirth.
According to the statement, preliminary findings presented by the NYCN Isoko North LGA Chapter Chairman, Comrade Johnson Oghenevieyeze, indicated that the festival had no link to rape or abuse, contrary to reports circulating in some sections of the media.
While providing this clarification, the Council maintained that such explanations must not be used to shield individuals who may have taken advantage of the event to perpetrate acts of harassment, assault, or molestation.
“Any individual who hides under the guise of culture or communal celebration to commit such acts is a criminal and must be treated as such under the law,” the statement said.
The NYCN emphasized that the moral and cultural values of Deltans have always stood firmly against rape and all forms of violence against women, noting that such offences historically attracted serious condemnation and communal outrage. The Council commended the Nigeria Police Force, community leaders, and other stakeholders for their swift response to the incident, describing their actions as a demonstration of responsibility and commitment to justice.
It, however, insisted that justice must be served without delay, calling for a thorough, transparent, and unbiased investigation to ensure that all those found culpable were brought to book.
The Council also urged the media and the public to exercise caution in reporting cultural matters, advising against generalisations that could misrepresent traditions, while ensuring that criminal acts were neither excused nor hidden under any guise.
