politics
March 23, 2026
15 Arrested for Sexual Violence at Fertility Festival
Nigerian police announced today that 15 people have been arrested on charges of sexual violence at a local fertility festival in Delta State.
TL;DR
- 15 people arrested in Delta State, Nigeria, over alleged sexual violence at the Alue-Do fertility festival.
- Videos depicting men attacking women at the festival caused public outrage and a #StopRapingWomen hashtag trend.
- Police described the scenes as alarming and shameful, identifying and arresting suspects from the video footage.
- A police spokesperson stated that no official rape complaints were filed and that victims reported no sexual assault.
- The community leader, identified as an event organizer, denied that the festival condones sexual violence, calling it a fertility rite misinterpreted by some youth.
- Human rights groups argue that forced undressing and public humiliation constitute serious gender-based violence under Nigerian law, regardless of rape allegations.
- The wife of the Nigerian President condemned the attacks and urged security services to bring perpetrators to justice.
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