Elders and people of Uzebu community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State have declared all forms of same sex relationships a serious taboo and offenders liable to heavy fine including banishment from the community.
The elders position was informed by growing incidences of same sex relationships among the youths of the locality despite efforts to cause a change in orientation.
The latest action by the elders followed the discovery of the existence of a network of gay people headed by one
Festus Igbineweka whose father’s house in the area was allegedly being used by the group, and now a fugitive of the law who has been on the police wanted list since July 2023.
Sources from the elders council revealed that they became decisive over the prevalence of the illicit sex practice which is alien to Edo culture,following the discovery and arrest of some gay lovers who confessed to belonging to the afore stated gay network where their affairs were being coordinated.
Otairu Vincent and Onaiwu Ataffo including Odion Solomon who were recently caught in the act reportedly made confessions revealing the depth of involvement of youths of Oguola street and indeed the entire Uzebu community, fueling fears of impending pestilence on account of the acts of sodomy committed by the renegades.
The confessions our source revealed, didn’t just come but after they had been given the beating of their lives by angry residents who view their behaviours as endangering the time tested cultural norms and fertility practices that guarantee procreation. Their confession implicated Festus Igbineeeka and some others who were arrested in 2023 and jumped bail.
In order to stave off impending pestilence, the elders (Edions) of the area are to perform some rituals meant to cleanse the land of the abominable act which can have dire consequences on innocent people if not exorcised.
The gay love birds including those on the run and those arrested have been asked to pay atonement items which include, a live spotless white cow, 1000 cowrie shells, seven kegs of palm oil, 100 pieces of kola nuts, 14 cloves of alligator pepper etc.
Besides paying the atonement items, the gay men are banished from the community to serve as deterrent to others.
Meanwhile, the police say they have intensified their search for fleeing practitioners in the community including the alleged leader of the Uzebu illicit gay network Festus Igbineeeka who jumped bail, Darlington Iyoha ,Osarugue Austine Edobor and others
