Police Launch Manhunt For Suspected Gay Men In Edo

• By Segun Ojo

Two suspected gay men in Uwelu Village, Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, on Monday, May 4, 2015, escaped mob action after being caught engaging in homosexuality.

Some villagers who knew about the matter gave the names of the suspected gay men as Ola Friday and Orhue Uyiosa while speaking with CityMirrorNews.

According to the villagers, Friday and Uyiosa were caught having sex with each other at Friday’s house.

One of the villagers narrated, “Friday and Uyiosa were in Friday rented house around Uwelu Spare Parts Market committing an abomination – homosexuality. They were caught by Friday’s younger brother having sex with each other.

“The younger brother, who was shocked to see them in such abominable act, alerted the community members, who then beat and stripped them naked. Some people even wanted to kill them because homosexuality is a serious crime in our community. But the elders among the mob pleaded that the suspects should be handed over to the police.

Uyiosa

“Friday and Uyiosa were locked up in a storehouse so that the mob would not kill them before the arrival of the police. Unfortunately, we don’t know how they escaped from the store. But the police are already looking for them. I am just afraid that Friday and Uyiosa may be killed whenever they are arrested because the people are still angry.”

Friday

Another resident of the village, who identified himself as Sunday, confirmed that both Friday and Uyiosa were caught engaging in homosexuality.

“I am aware of their case. They are gay, and our community is totally against that,” he said.

When contacted, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Stephen Onwochei, said he was yet to be briefed on the matter.

However, a police source at the Ugbekun Divisional Police Headquarters told CityMirrorNews that detectives from the division had been deployed to track down both Friday and Uyiosa.

A family member who spoke with CityMirrorNews on condition of anonymity said the 31-year-old Uyiosa was introduced to homosexuality by Friday, his 38-year-old uncle.