The Afashio community in Edo State has raised alarm over the case of Stanley Esimikhe, a fleeing suspect accused of breaking the community’s traditional laws, whose escape on September 20, 2024, has been followed by what residents describe as a series of tragic and mysterious occurrences.
Community leaders and residents link several unexplained accidents, including the deaths of young people, to the alleged desecration of Afashio’s traditions.
Their anger deepened in June 2025 when the revered annual Ashio Day festival, historically celebrated without disruption, was marred by heavy rainfall for the first time in living memory.
Reports indicate that Stanley was sighted in Lagos late last year, but his whereabouts remain unknown.
In response, the Afashio Community Head Chief, supported by the local vigilante group, has declared a mass hunt for him, escalating the matter to the Edo State Police Command in Benin City and authorities in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a suspect linked to the case.
In a statement issued in Benin City, police disclosed that one Tajudeen Kennedy was apprehended in a remote community and handed over to patrol officers after being allegedly caught alongside Stanley on September 20, 2024.
According to police, the pair were accused of engaging in same-sex practices inside their apartment before Stanley fled through a window.
“Incriminating evidence, including nude and group sex videos as well as sex objects, was recovered from the scene,” the statement read. Kennedy was arrested on the spot and has since confessed, implicating Stanley, who remains at large.
The Command reiterated that the alleged act contravenes the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014, which prescribes a minimum of 10 years imprisonment upon conviction.
A manhunt has been launched in collaboration with security agencies and vigilante groups across Edo State and beyond.
Police urged members of the public to provide credible information on Stanley’s whereabouts, assuring that informants will be rewarded and protected.
The Edo State Command emphasized its commitment to ensuring justice while maintaining law and order, as the Afashio community insists that Stanley must face both traditional and legal consequences once apprehended.
