There was a disturbing video and posts showing some very stupid boys h@r@ssing young women in Ozoro. The impression created was that it was a festival, part of their culture, that allowed men to grope women. Some people even described it as a festival of r@pe. So I made calls. I contacted a lecturer at Southern Delta University, my former PA and principal who lectures there, and eventually I got in touch with the queen of the Ozoro community.
Number one, no female was reportedly penetr@ted in that incident.
Number two, it is not an Ozoro festival. It is a festival in one community in Ozoro called Oramudhu. It is a cultural practice where married women who have not conceived come out, and the men involved in the festival — after performing certain rites — use sand to rub their bellies, believing it will bring fertility.
Before such ceremonies, which happen about twice a year, there is usually an announcement that single ladies should not come out.
However, this time, the announcement was made in Isoko language.
Ozoro has now become a cosmopolitan university town, with many students and residents who do not understand Isoko.
So some of them — especially single ladies and non-natives — came out and were h@r@ssed and roughly handled. In some areas, nothing happened. But those who went around har@ssing young women were miscreants who took advantage of the situation.
If you watch the response video made by the king, you will see that he was visibly angry about what happened. He was not even informed before the ceremony took place.
The President General, who is also a lecturer at Southern Delta University, immediately mobilised with the vigilante group and contacted the area commander to stop the situation as quickly as possible.
It is very unfortunate that some irresponsible young men would take advantage of ignorance and poor communication to mole$t women. The queen of the community is a girl-child advocate, and she even asked me to make a video because she felt deeply disturbed by what happened.
I also felt very bad, because this is not the character of Ozoro people. The king in a video in response to the events was visibly angry stating that he also has daughters.
I am appealing to the President General and the leaders of Oramodhu that this festival should never take place again in that form. There are modern, scientific ways to address fertility challenges today — including IVF and other medical solutions. This practice is outdated, and Ozoro is now a modern, educated, and cosmopolitan community.
We strongly condemn the actions of those young men who har@ssed those girls — in totality.
The king condemns it.
The queen condemns it.
The President General condemns it.
Ozoro people are peaceful, enlightened, and welcoming people. And this must never happen again. I also appeal to the council of elders to ensure that such a ceremony is either properly controlled or completely stopped.
Let me say this clearly:
Never har@ss a woman. Never har@ss a young lady. We all have daughters. We all have wives.No one has the right to intimidate or mole$t a woman.
Thank you so much. I am Dr. Charles Apoki, just to set the record straight.
