Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria — The Delta State Police Command, a regional branch of the Nigeria Police Force responsible for law enforcement in Delta State in southern Nigeria, has arrested five individuals, including a community leader and chief organiser of a local cultural festival, over alleged sexual assaults during a public event.
Okay News reports that the arrests were confirmed on Friday, March 20, 2026, by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe. He identified the community head and chief organiser as Chief Omorede Sunday, along with four other suspects from Oramudu Quarters in Ozoro, a town in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to Edafe, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Aina Adesola, has directed that the suspects be transferred immediately to the State Criminal Investigation Department, the unit responsible for handling serious criminal cases.
“The community head and chief organiser of the event, one chief Omorede Sunday and four other suspects from Oramudu quarters in Ozoro have been arrested. The CP has ordered that they should be transferred to State CID with immediate effect. The CP vows that anyone involved will be arrested and brought to justice,” he said.
The arrests followed widespread circulation of videos on social media showing groups of young men allegedly attacking women during the annual festival held on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The footage appeared to show women being forcefully stripped and subjected to harassment.
Reports indicate that during the festival, women are traditionally expected to remain indoors. Any woman seen outside is allegedly targeted for harassment, a practice that has now drawn strong public condemnation.
There were also unverified claims that some victims may have been raped, although authorities had not confirmed these allegations as of the time of reporting.
Earlier, Edafe described the incident as “alarming, disgusting and embarrassing,” stressing that the police command condemned the acts “in totality.”
He added, “No custom or tradition is superior to the rights of citizens,” and urged members of the public with useful information to come forward to assist investigations.
The Delta State Government, the administrative authority overseeing the oil-rich state in southern Nigeria, also condemned the incident. The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, described the actions as barbaric and unacceptable.
“We are calling on the police and other security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of these heinous acts and bring them to justice. No individual or group should be allowed to hide under the guise of a festival to perpetrate criminal activities,” Aniagwu said.
He further urged community leaders and organisers of cultural events across the state to ensure proper security arrangements to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The state government reiterated its zero tolerance for gender-based violence, warning that anyone found responsible would face the full force of the law.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage online, with many social media users demanding justice for the victims and calling for an end to harmful practices linked to cultural events.
