Police arrest 15 suspects over alleged sexual assaults in Delta Community

The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 15 suspects in connection with alleged sexual assaults in Oramudu Quarters, Ozoro, describing the acts as criminal and “in no way representative of any legitimate cultural practice.”

The arrests followed intensified investigations ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, who directed the Command’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident that has sparked outrage and fear across the state.

Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, disclosed at the weekend that operatives, acting on the CP’s directive, carried out a thorough review of video evidence and actionable intelligence, leading to the arrest of the alleged chief organiser, Omorede Sunday, along with 14 other suspects.

Those named include Samson Atukpodo, Steven Ovie, Ugbevo Samson, Afoke Akporobaro, and Evidence Oguname, among others.

According to Edafe, the arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the case, which has raised broader concerns about public safety and the misuse of cultural narratives to justify criminal behaviour.

“Preliminary findings clearly indicate that this was the handiwork of criminal elements who exploited the situation to perpetrate sexual violence,” he said, stressing that such acts must not be misconstrued or defended under any guise of tradition.

Condemning the incident “in totality,” CP Adesola assured that the Command is committed to ensuring that all perpetrators are brought to justice.

The case has once again highlighted persistent concerns about the underreporting of sexual violence, often driven by stigma, fear of reprisals, and lack of trust in the justice system.

Meanwhile, the police have called on victims and witnesses to assist ongoing investigations, assuring them of confidentiality.

While the Command’s swift action has led to multiple arrests, stakeholders have raised concerns about how the alleged assaults were allowed to occur, questioning whether early warning signs were ignored. They have called not only for the prosecution of those involved but also for a thorough investigation into possible systemic lapses that may have enabled the incident.