By Tosin Agbesan
Operatives of Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Osogbo, Osun State in the early hours of Monday, June 10, 2019, arrested about 22 youths at Ayekale area of Osogbo, Osun state for allegedly involving in homosexual activities.
According to a top security source that participated in the raid on the building where the suspects were arrested, the youths comprising of both male and female, allegedly involved in a proscribed activity called ‘Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender.’
The source who pleaded not to be named, further said intelligence had revealed that the suspects had subjected themselves to unlawful sexual activities of female having mutual sexual intimacy with partners of the same gender, while men among them were also alleged of having sex with other men in the group.
A resident of Ayekale community who pleaded anonymity, in a chat with Osun Daily had claimed that people in the neighborhood had monitored activities of the suspects for several weeks before a report was made to security agents, who swooped on the building where the youths had stayed.
However, when the police operatives stormed the building, it was gathered that many of the occupants reportedly fled, while 22 of them were nabbed.
A press statement by Osun Police Commend dated Friday, June 14, 2019, listed some of the suspects arrested in the building as Aliu Adeyemo, Ogudu Tajudeen, Bashiru Rasheed, David Alowonle, Esther Oyinlola, Ologun Rukayat, Olaiya Sulaimon, Tope Ogidan and Babatunde Ruth.
It further said amongst the suspects who fled and are still at large are; Michael Olojo, Tolulope Adelakun and Hammed Babatunde.
The command assured that the matter would be thoroughly investigated with a view to bringing to book anyone found culpable.
The statement insisted that homosexuality remains unlawed in the country and warned that law enforcement agents would spare no effort in fishing out perpetrators, adding that anyone interested in engaging in such sexual activity should relocate.
The Nigerian government has passed a law which states that anyone who is involved in gay or lesbianism shall be prosecuted and if found culpable shall be sentenced to 14 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
