…Rights groups demand justice for slain minor, Tobi Anifowoshe
…Police condemn jungle justice, search for missing teenagers underway
Three teenage boys are at the centre of a harrowing case that has unsettled residents of Lagos and triggered urgent appeals for justice and protection of minors. The incident, which occurred on 8 February 2025, involved accusations related to the boys’ sexual orientation, leading to the brutal lynching of 17-year-old Tobi Anifowoshe by a mob over homosexuality allegations. His friends, Itima Unity Jofaye (17) and Nsikan Bassey (18), are now missing and believed to be in hiding.
According to reports, police officers raided a hotel at around 7:00 p.m. that evening, arresting four of seven boys found on the premises. The other three — Tobi, Itima, and Nsikan — fled the scene during the operation.
What happened next took a horrifying turn. Tobi was apprehended shortly afterwards by a group of local youths, often referred to as “area boys,” who accused the group of engaging in what they described as “immoral behaviour.” Without verification from law enforcement or any form of legal process, the mob attacked Tobi in broad daylight and beat him to death.
Witnesses within the community noted that most of the boys were minors, with the oldest of those arrested believed to be around 22 years old. Some locals reportedly expressed outrage at the age of the boys, saying they were “too young to be arrested” and had to be “dealt with immediately,” fuelling the violent response.
Since the incident, Itima and Nsikan have not been seen. Their whereabouts remain unknown, and fears continue to grow for their safety.
The Lagos State Police Command has condemned the mob action unequivocally, stating that no level of suspicion justifies extrajudicial killings. A spokesperson clarified that while the boys were suspected of contravening the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, they had not been caught with weapons or anything threatening.
“This was not a case of armed robbery or violent crime,” the spokesperson said. “It was a case of alleged moral misconduct, which does not warrant jungle justice, especially against minors. The law does not permit any citizen to take matters into their own hands.”
Search warrants have been issued for the missing teenagers, while the investigation into Tobi’s murder is ongoing. The police have pledged that those responsible for the lynching will face legal consequences.
Human rights organisations and child protection advocates have strongly condemned the killing, describing it as a case of vigilante violence targeted at vulnerable young people.
“These are children, just 17 years old,” one advocate said. “Even if a law was broken, the courts must decide, not a mob. This case underlines the urgent need for public education on the rule of law and for legal action against mob violence.”
Tensions remain high in the affected community. Residents have been urged to refrain from retaliatory actions as security personnel continue their efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice and locate the two missing teenagers.