A 33-year-old man, Alimi Ridwan Adekunle narrowly avoided a violent mob lynching on Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023, after facing accusations of bisexuality.
Originally from Ijebu Ode in the South West of Nigeria, Adekunle fled to Obudu in Cross River State for safety, only to be confronted by enraged locals upon discovery of his sexual orientation.
The mob, led by a youth leader named Boniface Bonaventure, had been monitoring Adekunle’s activities after allegedly seeing incriminating pictures of him with a male partner online.
According to Bonaventure, such relationships were deemed taboo in Obudu’s tradition, prompting swift and violent action against Adekunle.
Reflecting on the incident, Bonaventure expressed a lack of sympathy, questioning the existence of such relationships when there are numerous available partners of the opposite sex.
The saga of Adekunle began during his secondary school days at Ijebu Ode Grammar School, an all-boys institution where societal pressures led some to adopt behaviors perceived as feminine.
However, it was during his university years at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where Alimi’s life took a complex turn. Amidst pursuing a degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, he found companionship with a fellow student named Olawale.
Upon graduating in 2015, Alimi returned to Ijebu Ode, while Olawale and his girlfriend, Abiola, ventured to Lagos. Juggling between his girlfriend and his secret relationship, Alimi’s carefully crafted facade shattered one fateful day in February 2021.
Little did Alimi know, the repercussions of his past would resurface with a vengeance.
In August 2023, Abiola resurfaced, wielding incriminating evidence and threatening to expose him.
Fleeing for his life, Alimi sought refuge in Obudu, Cross River State, only to find himself confronted by a gang seeking retribution. A desperate escape ensued, leaving Alimi battered and wounded, relying on sheer luck and divine intervention to evade capture.