Popular Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw has strongly condemned the reported mass rape incidents in Ozoro, Delta State, describing the act as "evil" and calling for urgent action against those responsible.
Reacting to the development, Henshaw urged the community to ensure that perpetrators are identified and punished, stressing that no cultural practice should excuse criminal acts.
"If it has been hijacked, then the community must do the right thing and ensure the perpetrators are punished," she said.
To support her position, the actress cited a viral Instagram post by user a_yinna, which criticized the misuse of tradition to justify violence against women. The post read:
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"Some traditions need to be questioned, not protected. I can't stand for anything that puts women at a disadvantage and still call it 'heritage.' That's not who we are at our core. Honouring where we come from should never come at the cost of someone's dignity.
If we want a stronger future, then we have to be willing to do better than the past. We cannot celebrate women in March and stay silent when they are violated in public."
Henshaw expressed outrage that the incidents reportedly occurred in broad daylight, with perpetrators acting without fear or concealment. She described the situation as indicative of a wider societal problem.
"The fact that this evil occurred during the day, with none of the perpetrators hiding their faces and moving about unhindered, speaks to the silent consent of the rape culture against women," she said. "This culture didn't start today but has been gift-wrapped as tradition."
The actress further questioned the relevance of any cultural practice that strips individuals of their dignity, insisting that harmful traditions should be abolished.
"Any festival that dehumanizes a human being in any way should be done away with. Fertility is not only a woman's issue. Enough of blaming women," she added.
Henshaw also challenged the community to embrace modern values, noting that traditions rooted in outdated beliefs should not persist when they cause harm.
"Our forefathers did what they did with the knowledge at their disposal. Do we not know better? Is this what should be happening in this day and age?" she queried.
Highlighting the broader challenges faced by women, she noted that such incidents only worsen existing inequalities.
"Do women not face enough antagonism in society?" she asked, adding that there is no justification for the reported acts. "There is no excuse whatsoever and no explanation that will suffice for such depravity."
She concluded by questioning the image the Ozoro community seeks to project, urging leaders to promote values that protect and uplift all members of society.
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