BENIN CITY-The Nigeria Police Force said that it has launched a desperate manhunt for a homosexual suspect who recently escaped from their custody in Benin City.
The police also disclosed that efforts had been intensified to apprehend some persons the fleeing suspect mentioned as accomplices in his confessional statement to investigators, before his escape.
It was also learnt that the Commissioner of Police in Edo State CP Haliru Gwandu had ordered the two officers whose custody the gay suspect escaped from, be made to face orderly room trial.
The officers, an inspector and a sergeant (names withheld) were said to be taking the suspect for medical attention at an undisclosed hospital when he allegedly escaped.
The police authorities had accused the officers of compromise and immediately directed that they should be detained, interrogated and tried accordingly.
The spokesman for Edo Police Command DSP Chidi Nwabuzor disclosed this to our reporter at the police headquarters in Benin City, last week.
DSP Nwabuzor identified the escapee gay suspect as one Harrison Izekor who was allegedly caught in the act of homosexuality with his partner (Adas Elo, now deceased) in a private residence at Upper Sakponba area of Benin City early this month.
He explained that Adas Elo died while receiving medical attention for the injuries inflicted on him by angry mob that attacked them before police arrived the scene.
The police spokesman while giving further details on their investigation stated that Harrison Izekor confessed to the crime and revealed identities of some of his members in the criminalised same-sex act.
DSP Nwabuzor gave the names of others suspects wanted along with Harrison Izekor to include John Inegbedion, Barr. Roland Nakpodia, Clement Osakue, Benjamin Okoro, Adamu Isa, Ike Albert and one Pst Olaniyi Babatope.
He said investigation had revealed that some of the suspects are bisexuals with wives and children as the police would not leave any stone unturned to apprehend and bring them to justice.
The police image maker revealed that since February 2014 when the former President of Nigeria, Mr Goodluck Jonathan criminalised same-sex marriage and its activities in the country, the police had made appreciable arrests, prosecutions and convictions.
He however appealed to members of the public with information about the whereabouts of the fleeing suspects to contact the nearest police station.
DSP Nwabuzor warned hoteliers and operators of recreation centres used by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group in Nigeria as the practice is against the culture, religion and social-economic life of Nigerians.
It will be recalled that the Anti-Vice Section in the Zone 5 Police Headquarters in Benin City had on Monday, May 9, 2016 acted on credible tip-off arrested six suspected homosexuals at their hideouts along Ikpoba slope axis of the state capital.
Briefing journalists on the arrest, the then Assistant Inspector-General (AIG), incharge of the Zone Alhaji Musa Daura said the suspects confessed to be homosexuals and had been having carnal knowledge of themselves since 2006.
AIG Daura however maintained that homosexuality was an offence against humanity and nature, and an abominable act that should be condemned by all sane people.
