By Adesakin Adefemi
The President-General of the Ozoro Progress Union, Asiafa Berkeley, has explained why young unmarried girls are traditionally forbidden from appearing during certain moments of the Alue-Do festival in Delta State.
Berkeley clarified this while condemning the harassment of women during the event, which sparked widespread outrage after videos showed men groping and assaulting women in broad daylight.
The festival, centered on fertility, has been marred by allegations of sexual violence, with some describing it as a “rape festival”. Berkeley attributed the restriction on young girls to long-standing cultural beliefs tied to fertility practices in Isoko land, saying unmarried girls are expected to stay indoors during specific periods to avoid unwanted pregnancies.
According to Berkeley, the tradition is meant for married women seeking children, and the restriction is not meant to promote sexual violence. “It’s an old tradition in Isoko land. In the olden days, young girls who were not married are not supposed to get pregnant; that means the family is going to be mocked,” he said.
Berkeley condemned the actions of some youths during the festival, insisting they acted without authorisation from community leaders. “This assault has never happened in Ozoro. I have never heard about a rape case in Ozoro, and nobody gave those youths permission to do what they did,” he said.
The community leader rejected claims that the festival promotes sexual violence, stressing it’s a symbolic event centred on fertility. “It’s not a rape festival; it’s a symbolic festival for fertility,” he said, adding that the practice had existed for centuries.
Berkeley disclosed that the king and community leaders did not sanction the actions witnessed in the viral videos, and a meeting has been convened to review aspects of the festival. He apologised for the incident, accepting responsibility for inadequate security.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. As the community grapples with the fallout, questions remain about the balance between cultural traditions and women’s rights.
The Ozoro Progress Union is working to address the issue and ensure such incidents don’t happen again. Meanwhile, authorities are urging victims to come forward and report any cases of harassment or assault.
