The whereabouts of a young man, Aghedo Cephas, and his schoolmate, Assurance Omeke, remain unknown following allegations of a same-sex encounter at a private school in Benin City, Edo State.
The incident has triggered significant tension within the local community and left the Aghedo family in a state of mounting concern.
According to an anonymous source, the two students were reportedly discovered by peers, who subjected them to public humiliation before alerting school authorities.
Although the police were summoned to the scene, the suspects managed to flee the premises prior to their arrival, allegedly with the assistance of a hostel official.
The repercussions of the event have extended to the students’ private residences. In the Ekae area of Oredo Local Government, local youths have reportedly placed the homes under surveillance, intending to apprehend the pair and surrender them to law enforcement.
A spokesperson for the Aghedo family expressed profound distress over the situation, citing the intense social stigma and ridicule the family has endured while the safety of their son remains uncertain.
The school administration has confirmed the report and officially referred the matter to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation.
Police Public Relations Officer SP Moses Yamu confirmed that the command is actively investigating the case and conducting efforts to locate the missing students.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of the 2014 Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, which mandates strict legal penalties for same-sex relationships and related activities throughout Nigeria.
