Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content and Senator representing Delta South, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has strongly condemned the attack on women and girls during a festival in Oramudu Community, Ozoro Kingdom, describing the incident as “criminal” and a gross violation of human dignity.

The lawmaker, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made his position known in a statement personally signed on Monday, following his visit to Anthony Ogbogbo Ibuka I, the Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, at his palace in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Reacting to the incident, Thomas distanced the Isoko culture from the acts, stressing that the assault does not reflect the traditions or values of the people.

“As an Isoko man, I feel deeply pained by the misrepresentation of our people and our traditions. Let me make this absolutely clear: there is no such thing as a ‘rape festival’ in Ozoro Kingdom or anywhere in Isoko land,” he said.

“Our culture is rooted in peace, respect, and the protection of human dignity, especially for women. What transpired in Oramudu Community was not a reflection of our heritage but the actions of a few criminal elements,” he added.

The senator called for swift justice and urged security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident.

He commended the prompt intervention of community members, local vigilante groups, and security operatives in rescuing victims and restoring calm, but insisted that perpetrators must be held accountable.

“Everyone must be seen to be served. This is non-negotiable,” he stated.

Thomas further urged community leaders and cultural custodians to implement stricter safeguards during festivals and public gatherings to prevent a recurrence.

Condemning all forms of gender-based violence, the lawmaker stressed that sexual assault, molestation, and harassment have no place in society.

“All forms of sexual assault, molestation, harassment, and any actions that inflict harm or trauma on women are utterly unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms. Our tradition forbids such behaviour, and no girl or woman should ever again be exposed to such humiliation,” he said.

He also appealed for calm among residents of Ozoro Kingdom and the wider Isoko nation, assuring that he would collaborate with stakeholders and security agencies to ensure justice is served and preventive measures are strengthened.

“Together, we will uphold the values that make Ozoro Kingdom a beacon of peace, culture, and progress,” he concluded.

Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has charged newly promoted senior officers to view their elevation as a call to greater responsibility rather than a reward for past service.

Disu gave the directive on Monday during the decoration ceremony of senior officers held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall in Abuja, where officers promoted to the ranks of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner of Police were formally decorated.

Addressing the officers, the police chief described their promotion as a “strategic investment in leadership,” stressing that it comes with higher expectations, stricter accountability, and increased public scrutiny.

“This promotion is not a reward; it is a responsibility,” he said, warning that indiscipline, abuse of office, corruption, and dereliction of duty would not be tolerated under their leadership.

He urged the officers to ensure firm supervision and take full responsibility not only for operational outcomes but also for the conduct of personnel under their command, noting that strong leadership is key to maintaining standards within the Force.

Reiterating his reform agenda, Disu emphasised the need for people-centred policing, calling on the officers to uphold professionalism, respect human rights, and strengthen engagement with the public.

“The era of policing that alienates the people is over. We must build trust deliberately and consistently,” he added.

The IGP also highlighted ongoing reform efforts within the Force, urging the officers to embrace innovation, improve efficiency, and abandon outdated practices that do not align with modern policing standards.

As part of the reform drive, he announced a mandatory strategic leadership retreat for newly promoted senior officers, scheduled to begin on March 24, 2026, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme. The programme will focus on transformational leadership and contemporary policing strategies.

Disu further disclosed plans for the second edition of National Police Day slated for April 7, 2026, which will be preceded by a week-long series of community-based activities, including medical outreaches and public engagement initiatives aimed at strengthening police-community relations.

He expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for continued support for the Nigeria Police Force, while also commending the Police Service Commission for ensuring transparency and merit in the promotion process.

The ceremony underscores a renewed push by the police leadership to align command structure with professionalism, reform, and the restoration of public trust.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has unveiled 3,200 young African entrepreneurs as beneficiaries of its 2026 entrepreneurship programme, committing over $16 million in funding, training, and mentorship to drive business growth across the continent.

Each selected entrepreneur will receive a $5,000 seed grant under the initiative, which aims to stimulate job creation, reduce poverty, and promote inclusive economic development in Africa.

The programme is backed by a consortium of global and regional partners, including the European Commission, United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, IKEA Foundation, and the Government of the Netherlands, among others.

Founder of the foundation, Tony Elumelu, said the initiative goes beyond financial support by equipping beneficiaries with mentorship, coaching, and training needed to build sustainable businesses.

“We aim to drive job creation, alleviate poverty, and promote inclusive economic empowerment across Africa,” he said, noting that the foundation’s vision is to democratise opportunity and prosperity across communities.

Elumelu stressed that collective action remains critical to transforming the continent, adding that empowering young entrepreneurs is central to Africa’s long-term development. He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for policies supporting entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Somachi Chris-Asoluka, highlighted the programme’s impact since its launch in 2015, revealing that over $100 million has been disbursed to 24,000 entrepreneurs across Africa.

According to her, the initiative has created approximately 1.5 million jobs, generated $4.2 billion in revenue, and lifted over 3.1 million people out of poverty, while impacting more than 4.1 million households.

She emphasised that mentorship remains a key pillar of the programme, with global partnerships helping entrepreneurs navigate challenges and scale effectively.

The 2026 cohort spans diverse sectors including agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, education, healthcare, retail, and the green economy, reflecting a broad-based approach to economic development.

The event also recognised six outstanding alumni from Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria, Mali, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who have successfully transformed their initial grants into thriving enterprises.

The latest intervention reinforces TEF’s commitment to nurturing Africa’s next generation of business leaders, positioning entrepreneurship as a major driver of sustainable growth and economic resilience across the continent.