**Delta Community Leaders Deny Rape Claims, Admit Harassment at Festival** In a statement released on X, leaders of the Ozoro community in Delta State have denied allegations of rape linked to the Alue-Do festival. The reaction follows outrage on social media after videos surfaced showing men tearing the clothes of young women during the festival. According to _PUNCH Online_, the videos showed disturbing scenes of men groping women, while another clip showed a young woman crying and clutching her torn clothes as she was harassed. The Delta State Government had earlier condemned the incidents, describing them as "barbaric, heinous and unacceptable." Police authorities also arrested a community leader, Omorede Sunday, along with four other suspects over allegations of rape and assault. The Ozoro leadership, in a statement co-signed by President-General Berkley Asiafa and Secretary-General Obaro Egware, claimed that the viral videos misrepresented the festival. They explained that the Alue-Do festival is a "festival of fertility, widely believed to be a cultural practice that brings blessings of children to individuals or couples experiencing difficulty in childbirth." As part of this tradition, certain symbolic acts are observed, including the act of playfully dragging and pouring sand on married individuals who are yet to have children. However, the community leaders acknowledged that the tradition was abused. "Some youths misinterpreted and misapplied the cultural practice in a negative and unacceptable manner, leading to the harassment of some young women," the statement read. The leaders stressed that contrary to reports circulating online, no rape occurred during the festival. "No incidents of rape were recorded. The situation involved the harassment of two young women by individuals who took advantage of the occasion to act irresponsibly," the statement reads. The leadership of Ozoro Kingdom condemned any form of harassment or misconduct, stating that such behavior is not part of their culture and traditions. Community leaders had contacted security agencies, who restored order and commenced investigations. The Ozoro leadership is taking appropriate steps to address the allegations and prevent similar incidents in the future.