Mob violence targets suspected homosexuals in Lagos, leaving multiple dead, several arrested
As Nigeria continues to enforce its harsh anti-LGBTQ+ laws, a wave of mob violence has left several people dead and others in custody, exposing lives caught in a climate of fear, silence, and persecution.
When a group of friends gathered for a quiet night at a FESTAC apartment in April 2025, they never imagined the evening would end in tragedy.
By dawn, three people — Ronke Gisanrin, Agatha Odekunle, and Fred Cornelius — were dead. Two others were arrested, and the rest fled into hiding.
All were reportedly targeted for being members of Nigeria’s LGBTQ+ community — a group criminalized under the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014. The law, which bans same-sex relationships and perceived LGBTQ+ gatherings, has provided the backdrop for what many now describe as extrajudicial executions.
Survivors of the April 2025 attack include Adesola Tunmise, Gift Esohe Iroghama, Ernest Osagie, Osayende Mark Ejiro, and Samson Iyang, all of whom escaped the violent mob.
However, Mercy Idoho and Otu Akpan were arrested at the scene and remain in custody, awaiting trial.
This was not the first time the group faced danger.
On August 24, 2024, Adesola Tunmise and her partner Ronke Gisanrin hosted a small gathering at their Festac apartment, along with Gift Esohe Iroghama (born August 4, 1992) and her husband Ernest Osagie (born January 28, 1986).
Also present were Osayende Mark Ejiro, Helen Nwoka, Fred Cornelius, Chima Noble, and Samson Iyang — all part of a close-knit social circle navigating queer identity in a country where simply existing could be a death sentence.
That night, they narrowly escaped another attack when security guards warned them of a possible mob gathering nearby. Many in the group, including Ernest Osagie, lived double lives — married heterosexually while secretly identifying as queer. Ernest, for instance, is legally married to Gift but was later revealed to be bisexual or gay.
December 2024 brought deadlier consequences. At another gathering hosted by Gift and Ernest, guests included Ronke Gisanrin, Chima Noble, Helen Nwoka, Tope Ajayi, Osayende Mark Ejiro, Fred Cornelius, Samson Iyang, and Agatha Odekunle. This time, the mob struck before they could flee. Helen Nwoka and Chima Noble were killed. Tope Ajayi was severely beaten and later arrested, while the others narrowly escaped.
The attacks are believed to have been carried out by the same vigilante group intent
on locating what they call “wanted homosexuals.” Their vow: “No mercy will beshown.”
In interviews conducted at a Lagos detention center, both Mercy Idoho and Otu Akpan described their ordeal as “nightmares they can’t wake up from.” Otu said, “We weren’t criminals. We were afraid of the police, but more afraid of the mob.”
Families of the deceased have broken their silence. A grieving relative of Agatha Odekunle said, “Even if she made mistakes, she didn’t deserve to die like that. They were still human beings.” A relative of Ronke Gisanrin expressed heartbreak over the government’s silence: “These are people’s daughters and sons. Even if they were guilty of something, is this the punishment?”
The Nigerian police have reiterated their commitment to enforcing the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, which bans same-sex unions and public associations promoting LGBTQ+ rights. However, no arrests have been made in connection with the mob killings.
International human rights organizations have called for urgent investigations and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in Nigeria. A spokesperson for Amnesty International stated: “This is not just law enforcement. This is lynching under the cover of law. No Nigerian deserves to be hunted for who they are.”
As the vigilantes celebrate the deaths of those killed, they remain intent on finding the survivors still in hiding. These include: Adesola Tunmise, Ernest Osagie, Gift Esohe Iroghama, Osayende Mark Ejiro, and Samson Iyang — people who, despite the danger, sought love, friendship, and safety in secret.
