In a tragic and disturbing incident, a man named Rukevwe Godday Oghenevo, believed to be in his 30s was reportedly lynched by a mob in the Ologbo area of Edo State, Nigeria.
The victim had previously fled the community in 2023 following accusations of attending a gathering suspected to be a gay club, an allegation that placed him at odds with Nigeria’s strict anti-LGBTQ laws.
According to local sources, the man recently returned to the area from Libya after unsuccessful effort to cross the Mediterranean sea to Europe in an attempt to flee from prosecution (police and Government) and other potential killers; thinking that the issue would have been forgotten or laid to rest, was unaware that members of a local vigilante group and some youths still keep track of him and others that flew because of the accusation.
On the day of the incident, he was reportedly pursued, assaulted, and ultimately killed by a mob. Eyewitnesses claim that despite the presence of onlookers during the attack, no attempts were made to intervene. Until now, no arrests have been made, and law enforcement authorities are silent and refuse to release an official statement regarding the incident.
Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, enacted in 2014, criminalizes same-sex relationships and public displays of same-sex affection. The law prescribes up to 16 years imprisonment for individuals involved in same-sex relationships and 10 years for those who support any form of LGBTQ organizations.
In practice, however, vigilante groups and mobs often take the law into their own hands, attacking individuals suspected of being LGBTQ, sometimes fatally, and often without any form of legal process.
Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned Nigeria’s anti-LGBTQ laws, describing them as discriminatory, inhumane, and contrary to international human rights standards.
Despite mounting international pressure and clear evidence that the law endangers lives, the Nigerian government has refused to repeal or amend the legislation. Political and religious leaders continue to defend the law as reflecting “cultural and moral values,” ignoring its devastating impact on LGBTQ individuals.
The enforcement and social acceptance of this law have created a climate of fear. Many LGBTQ and other Nigerians suspected of having ties with LGBTQ have been forced to flee the country, seeking asylum in Europe and North America separated from their families and loved ones.
Calls for justice in the Ologbo killing grow louder, but with a track record of impunity in such cases, there is no hope for accountability, Human right group have called on the UNO, EU, AU and other international organization to prevail on Nigeria government to repeal this inhuman law and it devastating consequences on its citizenry and the nation at large.