By Elijah Ade
A man identified as Joshua Abraham and his suspected partner identified as George Osas Aifuwa recently escaped from being lynched after they were caught engaging in homosexual act in a remote community area of Benin, Edo state South – South Nigeria.
It was gathered that a lady caught both men having sex in the late hour of December 27, 2023, and then shouted to alert people around. Sources said the youths in the area together with some local vigilante groups beat the partner to stupor and also opted to set them ablaze on the ground that they have polluted the land by committing abomination.
Homosexual is not only considered as an abominable act in many parts of Nigeria, it is a criminal offence that attracts 14 years imprisonment for any offender.
According to sources, George Osas Aifuwa is a son of a popular and respected couple, Mr. Godwin Imianmian Aifuwa and Mrs. Cordilia Aifuwa in Benin. He was said to have had bisexual orientation right from childhood which later grew in him. Sources said his parents once sought religious intervention in his case when they noticed his excessive affinity with male, such that he addressed other male colleagues as his wife.
He was to have been locked up at a time in a church for 21 days while pastors prayed and fasted to “cast out” what they believed was an evil spirit in him. However, his bisexual orientation was reinforced when he got to the university. It was gathered that he joined the Kegite group at the university where he also met his breed.
According to sources, Osas lost contact with his university male partner after graduation, after which he decided to engage in a relationship with a lady, identified as Cynthia Ebosetale Okoria and their relationship later produced a daughter known as Purity Iwinosa Aifuwa.
When they were caught on the fateful night, Osas was said to have confessed that he met Abraham at a Christmas party he attended on December 25, 2023, and after a good time together at the party, they exchanged contacts.
Our correspondent gathered that Osas had visited Abraham on December 27, 2023, but unfortunately for them, Joshua’s girlfriend identified as Roseline Adaobi barged into the room and caught both men having sex, a development that left her with huge shock and therefore shouted and raised an alarm that drew the attention of neighbours and the community vigilante.
Our correspondent gathered that after merciless torture, some members of the vigilante group suggested taking them to the police station, but the irate youths insisted that they should be burnt alive until the vigilante group prevailed by persuading the youths that the partners should be handed over to the police
One of the men of the vigilante group was said to have been saddled with the responsibility of taking them to the police station. It was however gathered that both partners escaped on their way to the police station, though it was alleged that the man may have deliberately freed them and allowed them to escape.
Our correspondent gathered that both partners have since disappeared from the community but the youths are determined to locate them and carry out jungle justice on them on the ground that they have defiled the land.
It was also gathered that some elders in the community have reported the matter to security operatives who are also hunting for the men so as to arrest them and bring them to justice. Homosexual currently attracts 14 years imprisonment in Nigeria.
