Nigerian Police, Community Leaders Declare Aikhuanyi Wanted for Same-Sex Act

By Victor Momodu

The community leaders of Ikpoba Hill in Benin-city, Edo State have lamented that the family of Aikhuanyi has committed an unforgivable sacrilege, and have, therefore, invited the state Police Command to prosecute their son, Idemudia Osahon Aikhuanyi, whom they alleged to have committed a taboo (homosexuality).

The head of the community (the Odiowere), who disclosed what he termed as an abomination committed by Idemudia to local journalists yesterday, said since the community cannot take the law into its hands; they have invited the police for the law to take its cause.

The Odionwere disclosed that Idemudia Osahon Aikhuanyi was discovered to have been having an sexual affair with his late maternal uncle, Mr. Moses Aluola, “who they said saw him through secondary and tertiary education,” adding that there must be a thorough cleansing of the land and that the Aikhuanyi family must present their son at the village shrine for oath-taking and other punitive measures.

He expressed disgust that the gods of the land have been desecrated, adding that they is a heavy price to pay for such crime, even as they declared Idemudia wanted to come and carry out the cleansing of the land. “We shall banish his family from the land, and hand them over to the police if they fail to provide their son, as well as inform the Oba,” the Odionwere warned.

Meanwhile, during his interaction with newsmen in Ikpoba Hill, the state Police Public Relation Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, disclosed that the state Police Command has also been notified of the incident by the community leaders, and has therefore declared Idemudia Osahon Aikhuanyi wanted to answer to the crime of same-sex act under the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act 2013.

Same-sex act (relationship) in Nigeria is illegal and highly prohibited in many areas of the country. The law has imposed a 14-year jail term for offenders. There is absolutely no gay rights in Nigeria and many other countries in Africa.

Speaking on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, Nwabuzor said: “The Nigeria Police Force has declared Idemudia Osahon Aikhuanyi, whose known address is No 5 Famous Street, Off Blessed Way, Ikpoba Hill, Benin-city, Edo State for an act of homosexuality (gay) with his late uncle, Mr. Moses Aluola, which is against the law of the country and the tradition of the community as well as against the constitutional law of Nigeria.”

A police report to journalists read in parts that: “In January 2022, it was discovered that the two were allegedly in the very act of homosexuality before the death of Aluola. And the leaders of his community want him to come back for the cleansing and other punishment for desecrating the land.

“The act of their sexuality has led to resentment and protest by angry youths and leaders, of which if not monitored, can disrupt the peace and harmony in the Ikpoba Hill community in the state. Now he is being wanted by the Nigeria police force and the general public in Nigeria.”