Two men suspected to be bisexuals narrowly escaped being lynched in Ifo area of Ogun State, when angry youths descended on them following allegations of homosexual activity.
The men, identified as one Mr. Okudele Aderibigbe, a middle-aged man, and his alleged lover, Segun, were said to have visited a local cinema on Tuesday.
According to multiple sources, trouble began when they were allegedly spotted in a compromising position inside their car after the show.
Eyewitnesses said the crowd quickly gathered after word spread that the men had been “caught red-handed.”
One of them, who gave his name as Wale, said the duo were being trailed by a group of young men in the area.
“The youths have been monitoring these people for months,” Wale explained. “They believed the men are not just friends. So when they caught them in the car, the mob pounced immediately, using cutlasses, stones, and sticks on them. It was terrible.”
According to him, the victims were beaten to a state of near unconsciousness before help came.
A youth who declined to reveal his name claimed that the men posed a danger to society.
“These men are a risk to our children,” he insisted. “If we allow them to continue, they will corrupt young boys. This is why we confronted them.”
The assault would have ended in tragedy but for the intervention of a community leader, Otunba Kunle Ola, who pleaded with the attackers to spare the men’s lives. Ola reportedly offered the youths ₦50,000 to put an end to the torture.
Speaking to our reporter over the phone, Ola condemned the jungle justice. “I do not support the actions of the suspects if the claims are true, but no one has the right to take another man’s life. We have laws in this country. My only aim was to prevent bloodshed.
“Even if the men were truly involved in homosexuality, it is not for mobs to act as judge and executioner. We must understand that jungle justice violates human rights and puts innocent lives at risk.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), in Ogun State, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and appealed for calm as the command was on top of the situation.
