As the Nigerian Police steps up its clampdown on same sex relationships, gatherings and associations in Nigeria, a popular Nigerian gay rights advocate has gone into hiding and no one knows his whereabouts.
Akinbola Gbenga has reportedly gone into hiding. Akinbola who is well known for conducting health outreaches and other activities for gay men and lesbians in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria as well as speaking for gay rights, has been off the radar for several months.
Akinbola had previously granted press interviews on health issues and the scourge of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria especially during the commemoration of the annual World AIDS Day.
When some newsmen visited known gathering spots for their activities in several parts of Lagos, the erstwhile bubbly venues were deserted with community members expressing their appreciation to security agencies for the clampdown as Akinbola and his group members have always constituted a nuisance in the communities during their so called health outreaches.
Community members interviewed stated that gay people were never welcomed in their communities but Akinbola ’s group claimed they were implementing health programs for all and only realized they were gay groups after they were granted entry into the communities.When our news correspondents put a call through to his mobile phone number which is well known in the health community at various times, the number was unreachable. Text messages sent to the number were also not responded to.
His wife Akinbola folakemi Deborah and his Kids Akinbola David ayomide and Akinbola Ayomiposi have since then vacated their house because of the fear of humiliation. They've become target of attack and humiliation as a result of the incident.
This incident might be unconnected to the clampdown on gay activities in Nigeria which has been intensified over the last five years in line with same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (2014).
The law recommends 14 years jail term for gay people and 10 years jail term for allies of gay people in Nigeria.
Even though, Rights groups in Nigeria have long campaigned for gay rights to be respected, but there is strong opposition to it in a country where many Muslims and Christians uphold conservative religious values.
Northern part of the country for example has zero tolerance for anything relating to gay or lesbianism. Recently, on December 20, 2022, The Islamic police force in northern Nigeria's main city arrested 19 Muslims, accusing them of attending the wedding of a same-sex couple.
The force raided the marriage ceremony in Kano after a tip-off.
Also, on 1st August, 2022, the Nasarawa State Police Command says it arrested six suspected criminals who defrauded members of the public through a gay dating application.
Investigation revealed that the suspects criminally conspired among themselves and utilised a popular gay dating app where they arrange dates with unsuspecting members of the public from different parts of the country, lure them to their hideout, hold them hostage and dispossess them of their belongings.
Virtually all Nigerians believe that Homosexuality is not our culture. Every society has its own values and should grow with those values. Nigeria has her own values and we must stick to our values and tradition.
Homosexuality is believed to be an acquired habit that ought to be eradicated and not be transformed into an acceptable human conduct in Nigeria.
Therefore Nigerians can go any length to annihilate whoever found involving in such an unruly and ungodly habits. In fact, nothern Nigerians can stone such people to death as it is against their religious belief.
One Michael Ighodaro once narrated his ordeal on how he was attacked by homophobes in his home city of Abuja when he was waiting for a taxi outside his friend's home. His attackers stormed up behind the LGBT activist, hurled abuse at him, and broke his hands and ribs. His taxi driver discovered his battered body outside the housing complex.
He made it known that he couldn't go to the hospital to get treatment or to the police to report what had happened because he didn’t feel comfortable telling them he was beaten because he's a gay. So he was thereafter forced to flee Nigeria and seek asylum in the US.
The police in Lagos had on August 27, 2018, arrested 57 men for alleged homosexual activity at Kelly Ann Hotel/ Event Centre in Egbeda, Lagos, on Sunday morning.