ActionAid Nigeria Condemns Assault on Women at Ozoro Festival, Demands Arrest of Perpetrators

By: Michael Mike

ActionAid Nigeria has strongly condemned the assault and harassment of women and girls during a cultural festival in Ozoro, Delta State, describing the incident as a serious violation of human dignity and a reflection of deeper systemic issues of gender-based violence in society.

In a statement issued Friday in Abuja, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, said the disturbing videos circulating on social media showing women and girls being chased, harassed, and assaulted in public spaces highlight a grave failure to ensure the safety of citizens during community events.

The organisation warned against attempts to trivialise or defend the incidents under the guise of cultural interpretation, stressing that no tradition or festival should be used to justify violence against women and girls.

“Violence against women and girls must never be trivialised, justified, or explained away under any circumstance,” the statement said. “Regardless of how such actions are described, the reality remains that women and girls were subjected to abuse in full public view, and this demands accountability.”

ActionAid Nigeria noted that the Ozoro incident reflects a broader pattern in which harmful social norms, silence, and weak enforcement mechanisms create an environment where gender-based violence persists and perpetrators often go unpunished.

The organisation insisted that cultural events must not become spaces where abuse is normalised or tolerated, warning that attempts to downplay such acts only reinforce impunity and further endanger women and girls.

ActionAid called on the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, to demonstrate decisive leadership by ensuring that law enforcement agencies urgently identify, arrest, and prosecute all those involved in the assaults.

It also urged the governor to make public the actions taken by authorities, including arrests and prosecution outcomes, as part of efforts to rebuild public trust and demonstrate zero tolerance for gender-based violence.

The organisation further demanded that security agencies be held accountable for any lapses that allowed the incidents to occur without immediate intervention, emphasising that their responsibility is not only to respond to violence but also to prevent it.

In addition, ActionAid Nigeria called on the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs to provide urgent, survivor-centred support to victims, including access to medical care, psychosocial counselling, legal assistance, and safe channels for reporting abuse.

According to the organisation, the incident underscores persistent gaps in protecting women and girls in public and cultural spaces and highlights the urgent need for governments and communities to confront harmful gender norms that enable violence.

ActionAid Nigeria also urged traditional authorities in Ozoro Kingdom to review cultural practices that may expose women and girls to harm, insisting that safeguarding human dignity must remain paramount.

Reaffirming its commitment to gender equality, the organisation said it would continue to advocate for stronger systems that protect the rights, safety, and dignity of women and girls across Nigeria while standing in solidarity with survivors of the Ozoro incident.

ActionAid Nigeria Condemns Assault on Women at Ozoro Festival, Demands Arrest of Perpetrators

Zulum Greets Muslim Ummah on Eid-El-Fitr

…Re-commits to ending insecurity

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the Muslim Ummah in the state on the occasion of Eid-El-Fitr marking the successful completion of the month-long Ramadan fast.

Ramadan offered the opportunity for the Muslim faithful to renew their faith, boost spiritual depth, charitable giving and other acts or worship.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Dauda Iliya, Governor Zulum urged the people of the state to imbibe and sustain the lessons learned during the period to recharge their spiritual beings towards rebuilding a secure, peaceful and prosperous Borno society.

He described this year’s Ramadan as unique, especially with unprecedented charity reach outs to the indigent population by his administration. He noted with deep satisfaction and total gratitude to Allah that his administration has reached over 300,000 vulnerable persons with food and other essential items across the 27 local government areas

Although the state has recorded series of attacks, which have claimed the lives of some military men and civilians, the Governor reiterated his resolve to tackling the security situation head-on.

He saluted the courage, resilience and commitment of the people to all initiatives aimed at deepening security and peace building among the various components of the society fragmented by the Boko Haram insurgency over the years.

Governor Zulum expressed profound grief over the resurgence of terror attacks across parts of the state, especially the triple suicide bombings of Monday, March 9, in Maiduguri, which claimed the lives of 28 persons and injured over 100 others.

He, consequently, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for sending the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima to condole with the people of Borno over the tragic incident and also deploying the Service Chiefs with a charge to review and deploy strategies towards ending the insurgency.

Zulum lauded the military for the ongoing offensive operations in the Sambisa Forest, stressing similar coordinated operations in Mandara mountain, Lake Chad area and other hideouts of the insurgents.

He expressed his unbreakable promise to double down in supporting the security agencies and volunteer forces in the prosecution of the counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations.

Governor Zulum recalled that the people of Borno have gone through harrowing situations over the last 15 years due to the Boko Haram insurgency. He, however, urged them to sustain the impressive resilience to the impacts of terror, which they have built over the years.

With the renewal of terror attacks, especially suicide bombings, Zulum strongly urged the people to uphold their decades-old personal and communal initiatives for their safety and protection in attack situations, as the security agencies deploy new and stronger strategies at plugging all loopholes the terrorists seize to carry out their cowardly attacks on communities.

The governor expressed optimism that the security agencies are, more than ever before, crafting and deploying the most-successful strategies at combating the terrorists towards ending the insurgency.

While strongly advising the public to heed the warnings by security agencies to steer clear of crowded locations unguarded by security agents, and be mindful of suspicious persons, Zulum assured the residents of the state that the Eid-El-Fitr praying grounds will be heavily secured for the Muslim faithful to observe their yearly sacred ritual without any fear of attack.

He wished the Muslim Ummah Happy Eid-El-Fitr celebration.

Zulum Greets Muslim Ummah on Eid-El-Fitr

NUJ FCT Chair Grace Ike Inducted into NIPR, Vows Ethical Leadership in Public Communication

By: Michael Mike

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Grace Ike, has been formally inducted into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), a development she described as a defining step in her professional journey bridging journalism and strategic communication.

Speaking shortly after the induction ceremony in Abuja, Ike said the recognition represents both a personal milestone and an opportunity to expand her commitment to responsible and impactful communication.

According to her, the new role creates a strong link between her longstanding career in journalism and the evolving field of public relations.

“This moment marks not just a personal milestone, but a bridge between my roots in journalism and my forward march into the dynamic world of public relations,” she said.

With more than two decades of experience in the media industry, Ike has remained a vocal advocate for press freedom and journalists’ welfare. As NUJ FCT Council chairman, she has led several initiatives aimed at strengthening ethical standards within the profession while promoting the rights and safety of media practitioners.

Reflecting on her career trajectory, she underscored the importance of communication in shaping societies and driving national development.

“These experiences have taught me that communication is the lifeblood of society, building trust, shaping narratives, and driving change,” she noted.

The NUJ leader said her induction into NIPR would further strengthen her dedication to ethical communication practices across both journalism and public relations, especially at a time when misinformation and the fast-changing digital media landscape continue to challenge the credibility of information.

“As I join the NIPR, I bring this journalistic rigour to public relations — a commitment to ethical storytelling, strategic engagement, and amplifying voices, especially those of women in leadership and media,” she added.

She emphasised that modern public relations goes beyond image management to include reputation building, perception shaping, crisis communication, and fostering meaningful relationships between institutions and the public.

“In an era of misinformation, PR professionals must lead with integrity, fostering dialogue that unites rather than divides,” Ike said.

She also pledged to uphold the professional standards and charter of the institute, while supporting mentorship and professional growth for emerging practitioners in the communication sector.

“Together, let us redefine public relations as a force for good — transparent, inclusive, and transformative,” she stated.

Ike further highlighted the responsibility of communication professionals in safeguarding the country’s global image.

“As custodians of national integrity, we must do all we can to protect and project the image of Nigeria positively,” she said.

Other notable inductees at the ceremony included former President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Evelyn Onyilo; the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Leke Bayewu; and Ikenna Egwuatu, among others.

The event attracted communication professionals, media stakeholders, and industry leaders, underscoring the growing collaboration between journalism and public relations in promoting transparency, responsible communication, and national development.

NUJ FCT Chair Grace Ike Inducted into NIPR, Vows Ethical Leadership in Public Communication