By Ebinum Samuel
In spite of the 14 years imprisonment stipulated by law as penalty on conviction for involving in same-sex love relationship in Nigeria, some thugs have resorted to killing the mother of a suspected gay and their neighbour in attempt to clap down on the suspect.
Though, the incident was said to have occurred in Effurun-Warri in Delta State, yet it seemed to have been covered up as no media reported it as at the time of occurrence.
However, our investigation revealed that it was a very bloody day in January, 2024 when residents of the area woke up to witness what was described as very gruesome attack in which two persons were killed in connection with same-sex relationship involving two young men, Yusuf Abubakar Ibrahim and Bright Anie.
According to reliable sources resident in the area, what led to the attack started a few days before the incident. The actual date could not be confirmed, but two among the anonymous persons who spoke to our correspondent insisted the crisis that eventually led to the attack had begun on 13th January, 2024.
Yusuf’s mother, Mrs. Ibrahim was said to have discovered something like a love letter while cleaning up her son’s room. Contents of the letter were reportedly damaging much as the letter was incriminating. It revealed much of an existing gay relationship between Yusuf and Bright.
According to one of the sources, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, Yusuf’s father got to know about the document found in Yusuf’s room. The wife was believed to have intimated him with the damaging contents of the letter.
Incidentally, the couple could not bear the finding that their son had engaged in gay relationship with Bright whose parents were said to have hailed from somewhere in Akwa Ibom but resident in Effurun-Warri.
On the other hand, Yusuf’s father, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, according to a source, has been living in Delta State for over 50 years. His actual state of origin could not immediately be ascertained but a resident living close to his house said he is from either Kogi State or the northern part of Edo State.
At Effurun-Warri, he was described as a reputed Islamic and community leader who would go to any length to fight against any abominable act. His influence in the community according to sources is on the high side as his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has brought him much closer to some important personalities within and outside the Warri environ.
Being influential in the community, Mallam Ibrahim reportedly engaged some street urchins likely to be his political and Sharia thugs. They were accompanied by some armed police men to search for Bright whom he suspected to have converted his son into a gay relationship.
He probably wanted to get him arrested and prosecuted in line with the extant law on same-sex relationship but it became a different ball game when the thugs took laws into their hands.
It was gathered that when the thugs and police arrived Bright’s family residence, he could not be found. His father, Mr. Anie Akpan, his cousin Mercy Ukeme and his mother Mrs. Anie Esther were incidentally met at home.
Disagreement and use of harsh words was said to have ensued between the thugs and Bright’s father who initially did not understand their mission to his family.
The disagreement reportedly degenerated into physical confrontation during which Mr. Akpan was stabbed twice with object suspected to be knife on the left hand and badly injured. His cousin was severely injured also as she was hit severally with a plank on the shoulder.
The thugs went wild extending the attack on Bright’s mother and a female neighbor who had tried to intervene. Both ladies were severely injured also and could not survive the injuries inflicted on them. Five other male neighbors who had tried to intervene were severely injured.
Sources said the situation was later brought under control on the intervention of police officers from another station believed to be the Area Command. They reportedly arrested their colleagues who had accompanied the thugs as they were suspected to have aided the brutal attack that led to the death of Bright’s mother and a neighbor.
Some other thugs were said to have returned at night in search of Bright as they suspected he was hiding within the environment. Regrettably, his whereabouts could not immediately be ascertained.
His mother’s corpse was buried by the family a few days later.
Meanwhile, the police at the state headquarters of Delta Police Command in Asaba said report of the incident did not immediately get to the Headquarters.
Police spokesman, Bright Edafe, a Superintendent of Police however told our correspondent a few days ago that the police were collaborating with Yusuf’s family to give more information on how Bright Anie could be arrested.
