Professor of International Relations and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos, David Aworawo, has condemned cultural practices that infringe on women’s rights, declaring that no tradition should justify abuse, as outrage grows over alleged sexual violence during a festival in Ozoro, Delta State.
Aworawo’s comments come after a coalition of over 500 women’s rights organisations under the aegis of Womanifesto denounced reported cases of sexual violence, with disturbing videos showing women being stripped and assaulted by mobs.
The coalition described the incidents as criminal acts, stating, “This is not our culture. This is organised and institutionalised abuse, and it must be treated as a crime,” while urging authorities to arrest and prosecute those responsible.
Speaking in an interview on ARISE News on Sunday, Aworawo aligned with the widespread condemnation, stating unequivocally:
“There should be no space in the current dispensation for people to make laws and say women should not come out. It’s a violation of their fundamental rights.”
He stressed that cultural practices must evolve and cannot override constitutional protections.
“You know, what we call culture was what the best people knew at that time that we inherited. And if we see some aspects of it that are not decent and neat, we do away with it.”
Aworawo also dismissed attempts to justify the alleged abuses under traditional observances, describing the development as both shameful and unacceptable.
“The NBA says it’s shameful. Yeah, I agree totally with the NBA. Shameful. And those who engage in it are shameless.”
While noting that the festival traditionally occurs periodically, he insisted that the reported violence represents a dangerous deviation.
“This festival takes place once every 10, 12 years thereabouts… We have never had a situation where if a woman comes out, we’ll be raped… But this one, it seems that hoodlums, area boys, 419ers… twisted things.”
He called on authorities to use the incident as an opportunity to restore order and enforce accountability.
“This should be an opportunity to clean up the place… Too many yahoo boys in the place.”
Echoing these concerns, Womanifesto emphasised that Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution guarantees the right to dignity, freedom of movement, and protection from inhumane treatment, warning that such rights cannot be suspended under any circumstance.
The coalition also referenced the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, noting that threats or restrictions imposed on women under fear of harm are punishable offences.
Aworawo further urged government intervention to prevent a recurrence, warning against allowing cultural arguments to undermine fundamental rights.
“Government needs to put the frame on this so that that will end all of this.”
Also speaking on the programme, legal practitioner Jide Ologun described the reports as deeply troubling, particularly in the context of modern society.
“And it’s so repulsive that in this generation, we are still having that.”
He stressed the role of the state in addressing both sexual violence and broader societal issues, insisting that justice must not be compromised.
“The sexual assault has… we have both the civil and criminal dimensions to it. And we have the state to attend to it.”
Human rights advocate Opeyemi Adamolekun reinforced the constitutional argument, rejecting any cultural justification for the alleged abuses.
“No tradition, no deity, no community elder, and no cultural practise has the authority to suspend the bodily autonomy of women.”
She added that constitutional rights remain in force at all times.
“Nigeria’s 1999 constitution guarantees every citizen the right to dignity, freedom of movement, and protection from inhumane treatment. These rights do not evaporate at noon.”
Womanifesto has called for the immediate deployment of security personnel, identification and arrest of suspects seen in the viral videos, and prosecution in line with the law.
The group also urged traditional rulers in Ozoro to publicly reject any claims linking the acts to cultural practices, while calling on the Delta State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, and international bodies including the United Nations to act swiftly.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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