Police Declare Two Men Wanted Over Alleged Same-Sex Activities

The Nigeria Police Force has declared two men Marin Joseph of 130C Itire Road, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos, and Mr. Fadipe Opeyemi, a native of Orin-Ekiti, Ekiti State wanted over alleged involvement in same-sex activities.

According to separate declaration letters dated December 10, 2022, from the Ekiti Central Police Station, evidence and information about their alleged activities with a partner, Mr. Akande Adewale Saheed, were forwarded to the Iyaganku Divisional Police Office in Ibadan.

Police said the suspects were allegedly involved in same-sex encounters at Rainbow House, Jakande Estate in Isolo, Lagos, and other locations.

The declarations, signed by ASP Abiodun Ajayi Peter, directed the men to report at the nearest police station to face prosecution under the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, enacted in 2014.

Tragedy struck during a police operation to arrest Mr. Saheed in Ibadan. A police diary entry dated January 11, 2023, recorded that officers stormed his residence but met only his younger brother, Mr. Akande Dotun.

Dotun, said to be asthmatic, reportedly collapsed and died on the spot when officers attempted to detain him for questioning over Adewale’s whereabouts. The death was reported to the Iyaganku Police Station by another sibling, Mr. Akande Jimoh.

Police have since released a report to facilitate the burial of the deceased.

Meanwhile, both Marin Joseph and Akande Adewale Saheed remain at large.