The Nigeria Police Force, Delta State chapter has arrested six individuals who are allegedly behind the infamous festival of rape in Ozoro community.

After an unsettling video footage of young women being harassed, molested, and physically assaulted in broad daylight appeared online, six suspects, including prominent members of the community were taken into custody.

The videos, which quickly went viral on social media, showed chaotic scenes in the Isoko North Local Government Area’s Oramudu Quarters. In the video, victims were sobbing and fighting off groups of men who were seen groping and tearing at their clothes under the pretense of celebration.

Social media users have called the event a rape festival and demanded the immediate abolition of any cultural practice that allows the dehumanization of women.

Chief Omorede Sunday, the event’s main organizer, is among those detained, according to Delta State Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the arrests on Friday.

The leader of the Oramudu community and four other unidentified suspects were also taken into custody. CP Aina Adesola, the State Commissioner of Police, issued the order for the arrests, calling the events criminal, inhumane, and a gross violation of human dignity.

“The Command categorically denounces these savage acts. Any form of sexual violence is unacceptable, and those who engage in it will be held fully accountable,” Edafe declared.

In Isoko North, the Ozoro festival is a long-standing cultural event that has traditionally been held to commemorate communal heritage or seasonal changes but the 2026 edition has brought attention to a sinister development of the celebrations.

CP Adesola has directed the case to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in order to guarantee a comprehensive investigation.

In order to locate the other suspects mentioned in the widely shared video, tactical units have also been sent to Ozoro.

The Delta State Government has also spoken out, denouncing the incident as savage. Officials from the government reaffirmed their zero-tolerance stance on gender-based violence (GBV) and pledged that no cultural custom would be permitted to act as a cover for offenders.

Other victims and witnesses who might have remained silent due to fear or social pressure have been urged to come forward by the Police Command. As they work to sanitize the community’s celebratory customs, authorities have pledged to handle all reports with professionalism and strict confidentiality.

CP Adesola reassured the public that Ozoro is still under strict security as of Saturday morning, saying, “We are committed to protecting lives, upholding citizens’ rights, and ensuring that such acts are never repeated.”