Focus on Africa Controversy regarding Nigeria's Ozoro fertility festival
Mar 24, 2026
Oliver Kirui, agricultural policy expert on food security, and Ejiro Umokoro, gender-based violence activist from Delta State, discuss viral footage from the Ozoro fertility festival and allegations of organised harassment. They cover the festival’s traditions, reported security failures, victims’ trauma and calls for accountability. They also examine how Middle East conflict is driving up fertilizer costs and the risk to African food supplies.
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Origin And Traditional Purpose Of Ozoro Aluedo Festival
- The Ozoro Aluedo fertility festival historically centered on married women seeking help for infertility through priest-led rites and blessings.
- Ejiro Umokoro described it as an age-old ceremony involving a fertility deity and women performing rites, now distorted by recent violent incidents.
Poor Communication And Coordination Enabled Attacks
- The 2026 event was poorly communicated and uncoordinated, creating security gaps that allowed targeted assaults on women.
- Umokoro noted announcements were only in Isoko, chiefs and PGs were not informed, and security/protection were not arranged.
Online Threats Signalled Pre-meditated Targeting Of Women
- Social media threats explicitly warned women not to go outside, framing those who did as deliberate targets for sexual assault.
- Umokoro said boys told women online 'if you go out... you will be raped,' turning the event into a menace for women.