The Delta State Police Command says it has not received any formal rape complaint in connection with the controversial Alue-Do festival held in Ozoro.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, made this known on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he addressed widespread claims describing the event as a “rape festival.”
“It is important to state clearly that among the four girls that were interviewed yesterday, no one, not one of them, said they were raped. Up till this very moment, we have not had any official reports that anybody was raped,” he said.
Edafe explained that ongoing investigations are being guided strictly by evidence and statements from those involved.
“The law does not work on emotions; the law works on available evidence and statements of witnesses. For the fact that we have not had a witness who says ‘I was raped’, and the evidence does not show that anybody was raped, sexual assault is what we would be investigating,” he added.
He further clarified that the Alue-Do festival was not intended to encourage sexual violence, noting that it is traditionally organised as a spiritual exercise.
“It was not a rape festival. It was a festival organised by a chief priest to pray for barren women seeking the fruit of the womb. That was the intention,” Edafe stated.
However, the police spokesperson faulted the organisers for failing to notify relevant authorities before the event.
“For reasons best known to them, the traditional ruler of Ozoro Kingdom was not informed, the students’ union was not informed, and the school management was not informed. They also did not inform the police,” he said.
He confirmed that the chief priest behind the festival is currently in police custody.
“That is why the chief priest is presently in our custody because his negligence has led to this embarrassment and to the sexual assault of these innocent girls,” Edafe noted.
The incident, which sparked outrage across the country, gained attention after videos surfaced online showing groups of men harassing women during the gathering.
While some social media users labelled it a “rape festival,” community leaders insisted the situation was hijacked by criminal elements.
Police have since arrested 15 suspects, including the chief organiser and a community leader, as investigations continue at the State Criminal Investigation Department.
