Ozoro: It’s fertility festival, not rape festival

2026-03-22 - 10:13

.... says Aluedor symbolises hope for childless women By Efe Onodjae Residents of Ozoro community in Isoko North Local Government Area have moved to clarify widespread misconceptions surrounding the traditional Aluedor festival, insisting it is an age-old fertility rite and not a “rape festival” as portrayed in viral social media videos. Speaking with Vanguard via a phone call, a community indigene, Comrade Lucky Agelive, described the Aluedor festival as a sacred cultural practice observed intermittently, sometimes once in 10 to 15 years, primarily within the Oramudhu quarter of Ozoro. “It is a fertility festival,” he said. “Women who have not given birth participate by performing symbolic acts, including pouring sand on their abdomen, praying for children. This has been the tradition from our forefathers.” Agelive explained that the festival is not observed across the entire Ozoro community but is specific to the Oramudhu clan. He stressed that extensive announcements are usually made in advance, warning residents, especially women, to remain indoors during the ritual period. “Announcements are made repeatedly, even weeks before the event, in both English and Isoko language. People are told clearly to stay away from the area during the hours of the ritual,” he added. Addressing the disturbing viral footage showing young women being harassed, Agelive condemned the acts but denied reports of rape. “There was no rape. What happened was molestation, some girls who came out of curiosity had their clothes torn and were touched inappropriately. We strongly condemn that. That is not our culture,” he said. He further alleged that those responsible were not members of the indigenous community. “Those who hijacked the process were strangers and some miscreants. Ozoro is no longer a small village; many outsiders and students live here,” he noted. Corroborating this account, a non-indigene resident and ex-student, of Ozoro Polytechnic, Faith Oghenevoke, said she had lived in Ozoro for six years without ever witnessing the festival until now. “I had never heard of it happening before,” she said. “It is called a fertility festival where women who have children symbolically bless those who do not. There is nothing like a rape festival.” Oghenevoke acknowledged that the viral video depicted acts of molestation but attributed it to youthful misconduct rather than tradition. “I saw the video too, and it was wrong. That was molestation by some boys. But that is not what the festival stands for,” she stated. She further revealed that local authorities have reportedly taken action. “I heard about 11 persons have been apprehended, and the traditional ruler has also made a statement distancing the community from the incident,” she said. Community leaders maintain that the Aluedor festival remains a deeply rooted cultural heritage aimed at invoking fertility blessings, and have urged the public to disregard misleading narratives circulating online. They also called for a thorough investigation into the misconduct captured in the viral footage, emphasizing the need to preserve cultural integrity while ensuring accountability for criminal acts.