The incident follows the widely condemned Ozoro ‘rape festival,’ where viral videos showed young women being chased, stripped, and assaulted by groups of youths, sparking national outrage.

A student leader told Punch that traumatized female students have begun leaving the community to avoid further violence.

He noted that the atmosphere remains tense, with anxiety spreading among residents and students, especially as uncertainty persists about the festival’s duration and whether the attacks could recur.

The student leader, describing the situation as “deeply troubling,” alleged that some university students were among those who assaulted women during the festival.

“Most of the female students are scared, particularly after being told the festival could last seven days. Many left early this morning, while others were still seen departing later in the day,” he said. “It’s not only the indigenes who participated—some students were involved as well. This highlights the level of societal decay, the failure of our education system, and poor human behavior.”

He insisted that everyone involved should be treated as “common criminals,” regardless of status, and called for their immediate arrest and prosecution.

While no confirmed cases of rape among the students have been reported, some victims received hospital treatment for assault. “Sexual assault is a grave offense that violates the dignity of our women, and we will not condone it,” he added.

The Nigerian Police Force has confirmed the arrest of 15 suspects connected to the incident. Force New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, stated via his account that investigations are ongoing and justice will be served.

“As stated, a total of 15 suspects have been arrested. This reaffirms the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to safeguarding lives and ensuring justice. Investigations remain ongoing,” he wrote.