A group of anti-gay vigilantes have attacked a young man known as Paul Aremu because of his alleged homosexuality.
According to eye witnesses, the attack took place in Adeoyo area of Ibadan, on Saturday, October 13, 2024.
One of the eye witnesses said Aremu was accused of being a bi-sexual man which the irate youth tagged as abomination in their community.
“Aremu was accosted by the group who accused him of going against the African culture and religion and being a bad example in society,” the witness narrated.
“He was thoroughly beaten, and his personal items, including wallet and phone, were stolen.”
In a report by Human Rights Watch, vigilante groups have added homosexuality to their “terms of reference.” These groups are organised by community members, given authorization by the community to maintain some sort of order and “security.”
Earlier in September 2024, Aremu was said to have been arrested by security operatives in Ibadan as part of a raid at a bar where gay men are reputed to meet.
He was accused of being bi-sexual and was reported to have confessed and mentioned one Ademola Amole, who he said is in Canada, as his lover. We tried to reach Amole for confirmation, but no one has his current contact.
Aremu was said to have been released on bail pending charge under the Criminal Code Act and the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013 (SSMPA).
Aremu said since the ugly incident, he has not step his foot at his home and he hid around the neighbourhoold as he is afraid for his life and can no longer move freely due to fear he will be attacked again.
In 2014, former president Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act (SSMPA) into law prohibits marriage between persons of the same sex. It forbids any cohabitation between same-sex sexual partners and bans any “public show of same-sex amorous relationship.”
People like Aremu, Amole and several others risk a 10-14 years prison sentence and society sigmatisation if convicted under the Nigeria law, but even worse, many of them are killed by vigilante groups without a proper day in court.
