For the second time in less than a year, allegations of orchestrated mass rapes have surfaced from concerts held in Enugu state organized by Phyno and Flavour, two of the South East’s biggest music exports. On November 19th 2017, Igbo indigenous rapper Phyno held the third edition of his Phynofest musical concert at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium at Awka in Anambra state, a roaring success by most metrics considering Phyno managed to fill up the stadium. However, considering how many women were raped, molested and sexually assaulted at the concert. We have no choice but to call it a failure.

According to report by attendees, over 15 girls were raped at the concert while security agencies stationed at the venue tried in vain to rescue the affected ladies. A few days after Phyno took to twitter to address the allegations, he practically denied the impossibility of such occurrence as according to him there was enough security provisions by the Police, Military, Civil defense personnel and bouncers. According to him, the state commissioner of Police was personally on ground to monitor things for himself as a result there was no way such could have happened.

The police commissioner also responded in the same vein. As expected the accusations died a natural death.

However, this last weekend Nigeria high life musician Chinedu Okoli popularly known as Flavour held his concert at the Michael okpara square in Enugu. As expected the turnout was huge as Enugu happens to be his state and the location with his highest fan base. Just like Phyno’s concert, the rape allegations starting surfacing while the concert was happening.

Sexual Abuse and Violence in #FlavourofAfrica show

A thread ……

— Dawn ? (@Dawnbede) April 3, 2018

According to a twitter user @Dawnbede girls were raped freely at the event while the lucky ones scampered for safety. Just like the occurrence at Phyno’s concert, the police was accused of complicity as they watched while female attendees were being molested at the event.

The Enugu state Police command as usual with Nigerian Police stated that they’ve commenced investigation into the accusations, as much as Nigerians may not have any hope in the force to unravel the mystery, it is important they get to the root of this by bringing culprits to book to prevent a re-occurrence.

Rape is a criminal act, we must not accept it in our society. Also event organizers especially in the East should put in place the necessary mechanism to protect attendees

tosin adesina