A dramatic turn of events has unfolded in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State in the case of two men accused of violating Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act.
While one suspect, Agburum Victor, remains in custody, his partner, Godstime Omoze, has vanished, sparking a manhunt and raising questions within the local community.
According to reports, the local vigilantes apprehended Victor after neighbors reported witnessing an intimate act between the two men. Godstime, however, managed to escape during the confrontation, leaving Victor to face the consequences alone.
The raid on the duo was fueled by a tip-off by suspecting neighbors who alerted the local vigilantes, leading to their apprehension. Amidst the pandemonium, Godstime managed to escape, leaving behind a trail of uncertainty and unanswered questions.
While Agburum Victor’s fate hangs in the balance as he awaits potential legal proceedings, the whereabouts of Godstime remain unknown. Although the vigilantes and community chiefs suspect someone in the community abetted his escape, their search has still yielded little or no results so far.
The incident has brought the plight of LGBTQ+ individuals in Nigeria to the forefront. Recall that the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, passed in 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s admission criminalizes same-sex relationships and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, imposing severe penalties including imprisonment.
