By OUR CORRESPONDENT
BENIN CITY- Over his alleged involvement in what is considered as an act of gay, a serious criminal offense in the country, the Nigeria Police through the Edo State Command and in collaborations with other Security Agencies in the country have declared one Ebosata Innocent Atebesunu, a.ka. Innosco, wanted nationwide.
This is even as Atebesunu’s gay partner, Nicolas Rufus, was said to have been tortured to death by the irked youths of Uteh Community and vigilante group in Benin City who viewed the alleged gay act as not only forbidden, abomination but also a taboo to their land.
According to a police statement made available to Journalists in Benin City, the alleged gay incident occurred at the residence of Nicolas Rufus, No.10, Bob Roland Avenue, Uteh Community in Upper Mission Extension Road, Benin City, Edo State on October 19, 2019.
The police disclosed that its investigation revealed that the gay suspect Ebosata (now at large) and his partner Rufus while alive sometimes used the Avin Ground Hotel and Bar, located at Upper Mission Extension Road as their regular meeting point to perpetuates their nefarious activities.
The statement, however, called on members of the public who may know the whereabouts of the fleeing Ebosata Innocent Atebesunu to visit any security formation in the country with useful information, assuring that such information would be treated with strict confidentiality as well as handsome financial reward awaits such informant.
When OUR CRIME CORRESPONDENT visited the scene of crime, a source who never wanted her name in print for fear of been attacked narrated that trouble started when someone youths in Uteh community who have been suspecting Nicolas Rufus as gay swooped on him and his lovebird, Ebosata Innocent Atebesunu pants down.
“The people thereafter raised the alarm which later attracted the presence of the community vigilante group to the scene and as they (the people) later desended on the homosexuals heavily.
“But before the police could arrive the scene, Ebosata Innocent Atebesunu, managed to escape from the grip of the people while Nicolas Rufus was not luck as he died from what the doctor later confirmed to be severe torture and internal bleeding.
“Ever since, the people have not set their eyes on the fleeing Ebosata, hence, his declaration as wanted person by the police, vigilante group, Uteh Community youth as well as other Federal and States security agencies”, the source stated.
Recall that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, had in March, 2014 passed into law a bill criminalising same-sex, gay marriage and other amorous relationship in Nigeria.
According to the law, homosexuals are punishable with 14 or more years imprisonment without option of fine.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of Ebosata Innocent Atebesunu could not be ascertained.
