BBC Africa Today

Controversy regarding Nigeria's Ozoro fertility festival

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The Ozoro fertility festival, a long-standing tradition in Delta state, southern Nigeria, has come under scrutiny after several videos online appeared to show men chasing after and sexually harassing women. Local police told local news channels that no formal report of rape had been made in connection with the festival. Witnesses, gender activists and local residents say that women were warned not to go out during the festival, and that those found outside were deliberately targeted. This has raised concerns that sexual violence may have been organised or tolerated under the cover of tradition.

Also, we look at how the conflict in the Middle East is affecting the supply of fertiliser on the African continent. Oliver Kirui, a Research Fellow and Country Program Leader for Nigeria and Ghana at the International Food Policy Research Institute, highlights what this means for food security in Africa.

Presenter : Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Chiamaka Dike and Daniel Dadzie
Technical Producer: Mbarak Abdallah
Senior Producer: Bella Twine
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
24 Mar 11AM English United Kingdom News

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