A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has called for urgent and decisive action following disturbing reports of coordinated sexual assaults in Ozoro, Delta State.
She described the incident as a grave indictment of governance and law enforcement in Nigeria.
In a strongly worded statement, Ezekwesili condemned the attacks as “criminal violations” rather than any form of cultural expression, stressing that no tradition or circumstance can justify violence against women.
She noted that the scale and apparent coordination of the assaults, widely circulated in videos and images, suggest premeditated acts rather than spontaneous behaviour.
The former minister raised concerns over what she described as a failure of intelligence gathering, community policing, and the visible presence of security agencies in the area. According to her, the brazenness of the perpetrators reflects a growing belief among criminals that they can act without facing consequences.
“There is no culture, no tradition, and no circumstance that justifies the assault of women. What occurred in that Ozoro community was not cultural expression- it was criminal violation and violence against women. When a society begins to warn women to stay indoors to avoid being attacked, instead of restraining and punishing those who commit such acts,” she said, warning that such narratives point to a breakdown of law, order, and moral leadership.
Ezekwesili urged the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Government to move beyond public statements and ensure that all those involved are identified, arrested, and prosecuted without delay. She emphasised that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done swiftly to restore public confidence.
Beyond immediate enforcement, she called for a broader accountability process led by the state government, alongside clear deterrent measures through expedited judicial action. She also advocated for the reinforcement of zero tolerance for gender-based violence nationwide and the strengthening of community-level intelligence systems.
Describing the Ozoro incident as a critical test of state capacity and legitimacy, Ezekwesili warned that failure to act decisively could deepen a culture of impunity already evident in other areas of national life.
She further urged political leaders, traditional authorities, civil society groups, and citizens to collectively confront the underlying issues that enable such crimes, noting that inaction risks setting a dangerous precedent.
The incident has since sparked widespread outrage across the country, with many Nigerians echoing calls for justice and demanding concrete reforms to prevent a recurrence.
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