Alu Festival in Ozoro: Women Humiliated, 15 Arrested

The article highlights the Alu Festival held in Ozoro, Delta State, where women were subjected to public humiliation as part of cultural rituals. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, former First Lady of Ekiti State, recounted the tragic events, emphasizing that no tradition should result in bloodshed.

The festival involved a ritual where childless couples were publicly shamed, and women were chased, stripped, and molested by young men. The Delta State Police Command responded by arresting 15 suspects, including the chief priest and community head involved in the festival.

Community leaders, including Chief Berklei Asiafa and Princ Obaro Egwar, condemned the practices, which reflect broader cultural issues of women's subjugation in Nigeria. The article also references past incidents of violence against women during similar festivals and calls for an end to such harmful cultural practices.