Nigeria’s First Lady has added her powerful voice to the growing chorus of condemnation following the ‘barbaric’ assault on women during the Ozoro cultural festival in Delta State. In a deeply emotional statement released on March 23, 2026, she revealed that she had personally watched the viral footage and was ‘shaken to her core.’
## A Call for Justice
‘No woman should ever have to endure such humiliation and violence in the name of tradition,’ the First Lady stated. She described the ‘Alue-Do’ festival nightmare as a ‘stain on our collective humanity’ and called for the swiftest possible prosecution of all 15 suspects currently in police custody.
She also urged traditional rulers across the country to review cultural practices that infringe on the fundamental rights and dignity of women.
## Beyond the Outcry
While the First Lady’s statement has been welcomed, human rights groups are pushing for more than just words. They are calling for a national ban on any festival that involves the restriction of movement or physical harassment of citizens.
The Ozoro incident has become a turning point in the conversation about gender-based violence in Nigeria. With the First Lady now involved, the pressure on the Delta State government to deliver justice has reached an all-time high.
Will this lead to a permanent change in how we view ‘tradition’ in Nigeria?
