Benin City – There seems to be no end to the continuing targeting, maiming, shaming and even killing of gays and lesbians in Nigeria. The cultural stigmatisation of people with alternative sexual orientation seems to have reinforced this dangerous trends of jungle justice against people considered gays. The criminalisation of homosexuality under Nigeria law has further compounded an already grave atmosphere for homosexuals.
News reaching our news desk from Ogan community in Uhunwonde Local Government of Edo State has it that a young boy (name withheld) was almost lynched to death by a mob of ravaging youths on suspicion of being a homosexual.
According to our investigation, the young boy was alleged to be the leader of a male prostitute ring selling their bodies for money to older wealthy men. He was alleged to have recently recruited some young boys in the community into homosexuality and prostitution. Our source further revealed that another young man named Okoro Kingsley allegedly involved in homosexuality narrowly escaped the wrath of the angry mob and the one that was caught was beaten almost to death by the mob and was only saved by courageous police officers who rescued him from the crowd and took him to the hospital where he has been in critical condition and the hospital is under police protection as the youths of the community has vowed to burn the alleged homosexual for sacrilegious homo sexual practices. The young man is said to be battling with his life in the hospital and the word around is that he is unlikely to survive the lynching.
As at press time, a manhunt has been organised by the youths of Ogan community for the fleeing Okoro Kingsley as he was allegedly a part of the homosexuality that they alleged has defiled the land and tradition of the community and that the gods can only be appeased by the blood of the said Kingsley Okoro.
As at press time, the whereabouts of the said Kingsley Okoro has not be ascertained as he is rumoured to have fled the country altogether after initially fleeing to Benin City where he was allegedly tracked to by some zealous youths.
The problem of discrimination against homosexuality in Nigeria has to be addressed as more and more people are being maimed and killed because of their sexual orientation. This problem is more acutely felt in villages and rural areas where there is still a strong aversion against gay people. The various discriminatory and criminalising laws and statutes against homosexuality must be abrogated and expunged so that people can no longer wilfully attack other people because of their sexual preferences.
In the meantime, it is hoped that the said Okoro Kingsley is still alive and has not been hacked to death by some zealous traditionalists who see themselves as some kind of avenging angels.
