LightRay! Media’s Protection of Women Initiative Demands Fulfillment of Promises to Ozoro Victims

The LightRay! Media Protection of Women Initiative, led by its Founder and President, Lady Ejiro Umukoro, is calling on the Delta State Government, the Chairman of Ozoro Local Government Area, and the President-General of Ozoro Kingdom to honor their commitments to the young women who were victims of criminal sexual assaults during the recent Ozoro festival. These promises, made in the wake of national and international outrage, include psycho-social support, welfare provisions, protection, and opportunities to aid the victims’ healing and ability to thrive academically and socially.

Superintendent of Police, SP Bright Edafe, the Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command in a meeting with Lady Umukoro, confirmed 18 suspects have been apprehended in connection with the heinous crimes. Speaking of the ages of those involved, he revealed:

“The four girls who were criminally and sexually assaulted were between the ages of 16 and 21, while the young men who committed these crimes ranged from just 12 to 25 years old.”

This revelation has further underscored the urgency of addressing the systemic failures that allowed such atrocities to occur, as well as the need for swift action to support the victims and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Unfulfilled Promises to the Victims

Despite public commitments from the Delta State Government, the Chairman of Ozoro Local Government Area, and the President-General of Ozoro Kingdom, the young women have reported that promises of psycho-social support, welfare, and other assistance remain unmet. One of the victims said: ” I don’t feel well at all. I’ve not heard anything from the government, the PG or chairman. Nobody is saying anything to us.”

Since making their statements at the Ozoro Police Headquarters last Sunday, the victims have yet to receive the promised care. Lady Ejiro Umukoro, speaking on behalf of the Protection of Women Initiative, expressed deep frustration over this delay:

“These young women need urgent care and support. Trauma is a heavy burden, and these girls, who came to Ozoro to pursue their education, deserve better than empty promises. Justice must be swift, and the support they were promised must be delivered without delay.”

Lady Ejiro has personally reached out to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Ozoro Local Government Chairman Godwin Ogorugba, and Ozoro Kingdom President-General Beckly, urging them to fulfill their pledges to the victims.

The Root of the Problem: A Culture of Misogyny

The Protection of Women Initiative has consistently highlighted the deeper cultural issues that enabled this tragedy. Lady Ejiro reiterated that the Ozoro festival, a fertility celebration originally intended for married couples, was hijacked by criminal elements with a deeply misogynistic mindset.

“There is no such thing as a ‘rape festival’ in Isoko traditions or any other Nigerian cultural practice. What we are witnessing is a generational transfer of toxic beliefs where boys are taught to see festivals as opportunities to demean and assault women. This mindset must be eradicated,” she said.

Lady Ejiro also condemned the rhetoric circulating on social media, where statements like, “Any girl wey go out on festival day, anything wey you see, make you take am! Dem go rape you!” are used to justify violence against women. She described such comments as enablers of tech-facilitated gender-based violence and called for legal action against those spreading hate speech and misogyny.

A Call for Accountability and Support

The LightRay! Media Protection of Women Initiative is demanding the following actions:

1. Imediate Psycho-Social Support: Provide trauma counseling and mental health services to the victims.

2. Educational Opportunities: Ensure the victims can continue their education without fear or financial barriers.

3. Justice for the Perpetrators: Expedite the prosecution of the 18 arrested suspects and ensure they face the full weight of the law.

4. Community Accountability: Hold parents and community leaders accountable for failing to instill discipline and respect for women in their children.

Lady Ejiro also called for long-term solutions to prevent future occurrences, including engaging young people in extracurricular activities like sports, coding, and environmental projects to redirect their energy and foster positive behavior.

“We must teach boys and men accountability, respect, and the consequences of their actions. This is not just a women’s issue; it’s a societal issue that requires collective responsibility,” she added.

A Broader Call to Action
While the immediate focus remains on justice for the victims, Lady Ejiro pointed out that the Ozoro incident reflects a larger systemic issue in Nigeria’s cultural and social fabric.

“This is not just about Ozoro. We’ve seen similar patterns in the Eyo Festival, Oro Festival, Oke’Badan, and others. This is a crisis of leadership, culture, and accountability. It requires systemic solutions and a united front from all stakeholders. Afterall, it takes a village to raise a child and to hold parents accountable,” she said.

The LightRay! Media Protection of Women Initiative is calling on schools, religious institutions, and community organizations to play an active role in educating boys and men about respect, dignity, equality, and the consequences of violence against women.

The Way Forward
LightRay! Media’s Protection of Women Initiative remains committed to amplifying the voices of the victims and ensuring their stories lead to meaningful change.

“We will not rest until these young women get the justice, protection, and opportunities they deserve. This is a fight for their future and for the soul of our society,”_ Lady Ejiro stated.

The Initiative will continue to monitor the situation, hold authorities accountable, and advocate for systemic reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.

The victims of the Ozoro festival deserve more than promises—they deserve action, justice, and a chance to heal.

It will be recalled that the festival, originally a fertility celebration for married couples, was tragically hijacked by criminal elements who assumed themselves as misogynistic enforcers of a prevailing mindset amongst a social media generation of young men binging on the toxic Alpha Male Red Pill phenomenon.