Manhunt underway for escaped man in Ibadan

A dramatic scene unfolded in the Agbowo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday, 15 March 2025, when two men, Nziwe Nnamdi and Okafor Ifeanyi, were apprehended by security operatives for homosexuality.

According to eyewitnesses, local residents had been monitoring Nnamdi and Ifeanyi for an extended period. Nnamdi, a married man with two children who worked in a residential facility in Lagos, was reportedly involved in a longstanding gay relationship with Ifeanyi, dating back to their time at The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

Unaware that they were under surveillance, the pair had left Lagos and relocated to Ibadan in an attempt to avoid scrutiny. However, law enforcement officers in Oyo State were already tracking them.

A security operative, Mr Joshua Godo, stated that an informant—whose identity was not disclosed—had provided evidence implicating the two men. According to Godo, their presence in the area had been a source of concern to residents.

“Nnamdi had previously managed to evade arrest in Lagos, but authorities persisted in their investigation until they eventually traced him to Ibadan,” Godo explained.

During the attempted arrest, Nnamdi managed to flee the scene, evading capture despite officers’ efforts to apprehend him. Ifeanyi, however, was taken into custody. Police investigations reportedly uncovered romantic text messages and other correspondence between the two men.

Ifeanyi has since been transferred to the Abuja Divisional Headquarters, while a nationwide manhunt has been launched for Nnamdi, who is believed to be in hiding.

Under Nigerian law, same-sex relationships are criminalised, with convictions carrying penalties ranging from 10 to 14 years in prison. The police have urged anyone with relevant information regarding Nnamdi’s whereabouts to report to the nearest station.