The authorities of the Nigerian Police, Edo State and the elders of Iguosa Community, in Benin City, have declared two persons, Tony Osaro and his partner, Frank Osayande wanted over their alleged involvement in homosexual practice, which is against the norms and tradition of the Benin Kingdom and the Nigeria Law of the Federation as it is a sacrilegious act and a crime which is also heinous in nature.
The homosexuals were caught in the act by one Ugiagbe Osaro, a member of the Iguosa Traditional Council, an act which is a taboo and punishable by death according to the customs and tradition of Benin Kingdom and also punishable under the Nigeria Anti-Gay Laws which is Anti Same Sex (Prohibition) Act of 2013 Section V of the Laws of the Federation which carries 14years jail term.
The Criminal Code Act Chapter 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, Section 214 Sub-section 1 and 11, also proclaims that anybody caught in the act is guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment for 14 years, a development which make the Nigeria government to seriously kick against the practice.
Speaking with Journalists, an elder from Iguosa Community, who spoke on behalf of the Odionwere, elders and people called Pa. Jonah, said that since these callous persons have desecrated their land by this homosexual practice, they have to face the full wrath of the law and tradition as their behavior, being sacrilegious, had contaminated the Benin Kingdom and as such, they will be killed and their blood spilled to appease the gods and ancestors of the land in order to bring back sanity , if not, there would be set back to the community as the eldest male children, will die one after the other within a period of fourteen days.
Pa. Jonah added that though they have escaped when they were caught, but that the traditional sanctions are still waiting for them no matter how long it takes them, just as he has appealed to all the indigenes of Iguosa, Benin Kingdom and all lovers of the Benin culture and tradition across the word to give any useful information which will lead to their apprehension.
In the same vein, the Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Police Command, said that the matter being a very serious criminal case, is under thorough investigation and that the pictures of the two homosexuals, had been circulated as public announcement to the members of the pubic to give useful information which will lead to their arrest and subsequent imprisonment.
