The leadership of Ozoro Kingdom has refuted allegations of rape and widespread violence circulating on social media following events at a traditional festival held on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
In a press statement jointly signed by the President-General, Chief Berkley Asiafa, and Secretary-General, Prince Obaro Egware, the kingdom described the reports as false and misleading, clarifying that no incidents of rape were recorded during the celebration.
The leadership explained that the event in question was the Alue-Do Festival, an age-old cultural ceremony celebrated by the Uruamudhu Community, one of the five traditional communities that make up Ozoro Kingdom.
According to the statement, the Alue-Do Festival is traditionally regarded as a fertility festival, believed to bring blessings of children to individuals or couples experiencing challenges with childbirth.
It noted that part of the symbolic practices of the festival includes the playful dragging and pouring of sand on married individuals without children, a cultural expression rooted in long-standing tradition.
However, the kingdom acknowledged that the event was marred by the misconduct of some youths who misinterpreted and misapplied the cultural practice, leading to the harassment of two young women.
“The situation involved the harassment of two young women by individuals who took advantage of the occasion to act irresponsibly,” the statement read.
The leadership did not explain what it meant by the irresponsible conduct of the individuals, but disclosed that it promptly contacted security agencies, who intervened to restore order and had since commenced investigations into the incident.
While condemning the actions of those involved, the kingdom stressed that harassment and any form of misconduct are not part of its cultural values and would not be tolerated under any circumstance.
It added that necessary steps were being taken to ensure those responsible are held accountable and to prevent a recurrence during future celebrations.
The leadership also urged members of the public to disregard unverified reports and refrain from spreading misinformation capable of damaging the image of the kingdom’s cultural heritage.
