The Delta State Police Command has dismissed claims that the controversial Alue-Do festival in Ozoro was a “rape festival”, stating that no victim has officially reported rape in connection with the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bright Edafe, made this known during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, March 23.
“It is important to state clearly that among the four girls that were interviewed yesterday, no one, not one of them, said they were raped. Up till this very moment, we have not had any official reports that anybody was raped,” he said.
Edafe stressed that investigations are guided strictly by evidence and witness accounts.
“The law does not work on emotions. The law works on available evidence and statements of witnesses. For the fact that we have not had a witness who says ‘I was raped’, and the evidence does not show that anybody was raped, sexual assault is what we would be investigating,” he added.
The police spokesman explained that the festival was not intended to promote sexual violence but was a traditional rite.
“It was not a rape festival. It was a festival organised by a chief priest to pray for barren women seeking the fruit of the womb. That was the intention” Edafe said
He, however, revealed that 16 suspects have been arrested so far.
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