Police Arrest Delta Community Head, Four Suspects over Alleged Sexual Assault During Festival

The police command in Delta has arrested Omorede Sunday, a community head, and four other suspects over reported rape and assault of young women during a festival in Oruamudhu community in Ozoro, Isoko north LGA.

On Thursday, multiple videos showing men ripping apart the clothes of young women, while groping them, appeared on social media.

In one of the clips, a young lady could be seen crying and clutching her torn clothing as some young men violently groped her.

Women were expected not to venture outdoors from 12pm to the next day during the festival.

Some social media users also claimed that it was the youths in the community who turned the festival into a “rape event” because women were prohibited from participating in the festival.

TheCable sighted screenshots of messages posted to the WhatsApp community of students from Southern Delta University, Ozoro, warning female students not to step outside the community from 12pm on Thursday.

Videos of the incident have sparked outrage on social media, with many Nigerians calling on security agencies to arrest the perpetrators and protect the women.

In a short statement released on Friday, Bright Edafe, Delta police spokesperson, said Sunday, the community head, is the “chief organiser” of the festival.

Edafe disclosed that the Delta police commissioner had ordered the transfer of the suspects to state criminal investigation department (CID).

“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,” Edafe said.

“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.”