Five In Detention, Two On The Run Over Alleged Homosexual Activities In Benin

By Our REPORTER

There was pandemonium at Oguola Road, Off  Siluko Road, Benin City, Edo State on June 30,2023 when angry neighbours and Vigilante group descended on six young men allegedly involved in homosexual activities in the area.

The incident was said to have occurred at House number 14, Oguola Street, Off Siluko Road, residence of one of the suspects identified as Festus Igbineweka .

According to our findings, Festus who was said to have reconnected with old gay partner named Austine Osarugue Edobor organized a gay party that went sour at his father’s house on Oguola Road, off Siluko Road Benin City,on June 30 where his partners came to enjoy themselves until vigilant group in the area caught them in the act.

We gathered  that Festus and Osarugue were caught in the act of homosexuality with others including Vincent Obi, Frank Okoli, John Opakunle and Felix Obasuyi while the duo were enjoying themselves in Festus room,the rest were also busy having fun in their separate room in the same apartment, doing the same thing.

According to an eye witness who simply identified herself as Itohan Ekogiawe, Festus Igbineweka reportedly got involved with an old gay lover Osarugue Austine Edobor who is now on the run, in an after party sex rump in Oguola,the legendary Benin traditional enclave where same sex relationship is a taboo.

The abominable secret meeting got busted when Festus’ next-door neighbour Benard Akpata was knocking at the door in his efforts to get the attention of Festus to remove his car that was wrongly parked to allow him
drive out of the compound because Festus’s car was blocking the drive way.

It was learnt that the loud music in the house to mask the pleasurable sounds from the apartment of the party boys made it impossible for them to hear the sound of Benard knocking on the door.

Having knocked severally with no response, Bernard had to walk in and saw the unbelievable and promptly raised an alarm that drew the attention of distraught neighbours who descended on them immediately, giving them the beating of their lives, while some were shouting, abomination repeatedly.

The suspects Festus Igbineweka, Vincent Obi, Frank Okoli, Felix Obasuyi and John Opakunle and five others, after the mob attack were handed over to the police by the vigilante group patrolling the area while the rest suspects Austin Edobor and Darlington Itoya managed to escape due to the power outage that left the house in total darkness.

Festus and his co-travellers are also wanted by the Edions (elders) of the area to perform some rituals meant to cleanse the land of the abominable act and appease the gods to avoid spiritual consequences.

The gay love birds including those on the run are expected to present items which include, a live spotless white cow, 1000 cowrie shells, seven bottles of red palm oil, 100 pieces of kolanuts, 14 cloves of alligator pepper and more for atonement rituals.

Meanwhile, the host Festus Igbineweka and others arrested by the vigilante group have been over to the police at the Ogida Police Divisional Headquarters for prosecution.

The offenders are in serious trouble as same sex relationship, is a practice that has been criminalized in Nigeria under the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act 2013 while it is also a taboo in Benin land.

According to our crime reporter who visited the Ogida Divisional Police Headquarters, the suspects denied involvement in the alleged same-sex practice.