LGBTQ+ mob violence in Benin leads to tragic death of Daniel Ojo. Activists call for justice as brutal vigilante attacks continue across Nigeria.
Ragtag men posing as anti-gay groups crusaders against alternative lifestyle with the ever-growing acronyms and a plus + sign known as rainbow nation were scotched out of the hidden perpetuating sacrilege act over the weekend at a social gathering at the Precious Palm Royal Hotel along the Lagos-Benin expressway, Benin City.
Information gathered from our source at the scene revealed that the Rainbow Nation group is known to gather at that location.
A tip-off about their events was reported to the crusaders against alternative lifestyles, who see themselves as vigilantes fighting against community immorality. This information was obtained through an undercover member of their group who works at the hotel.
A live source who witnessed the crackdown said a suspected and known member of the rainbow nation referred as Danny blue born Daniel Ojo popular for his free styling ballerina skills and a known back up dancer for pop artist is said to have been caught in between the melee and later lost his life in the hands of the lynch mobs.
Our sources disclosed that the gay groups are part of the performing band that had performed on that day at the hotel’s lounge. The unlucky bunches were said to have been caught pants down in the act behind the scenes.
The hotel worker who broke the news is said to have walked into the lounge’s dressing room unannounced to scope off left overs and clean up after make up artist, stumbled on the trio, heedlessly making out unaware of their uninvited company who is said to have tip toed back out to alert the goons of anti gay gangs who came in armed with clubs of various size to interrupt the lover-nest said to be half clothed in stage costumes, dragged to the open with stumps and brutal blows rained on the love birds who cried for help.
According to the report, one of the lovebirds tried to fight back but was overpowered with multiple forces of clubs rained on them from different angles, said to have later given up the ghost (died) from severe beating and loss of blood hours before reluctant help arrived.
This is about the second incident this year alone, with reports of death from crowd beatings on the LGBTQ+ groups by another group of anti gay movement in town.
The State Police public relations officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, reportedly reiterated warnings to the public and members of unassigned organized or vigilante groups to refrain from taking the law into their own hands against the LGBTQ+ community.
Unfortunately, these warnings seem to fall on deaf ears, as the anti-gay groups continue their actions without consequence. Regrettably, none of these groups has been arrested or charged for the ongoing instances of jungle justice they perpetrate, which are prevalent throughout the country.
The mother of the deceased Mrs Adele Ojo a retired auxiliary nurse, said her son Daniel, was unjustly targeted and a convenient scapegoat. According to people familiar with the groups, Mrs Ojo had petitioned the state governor and the state police commissioner to help fish out the gangs said to have been involved in her son’s untimely death.
Ironically, those reported to have survived the mob attack were later handed over to the police for arraignment and formal charges without bail. They are suspects who have violated the sodomy laws of the Federation, subsection 214.
According to information gathered from Benin, a broader effort is underway to locate additional suspects identified by those already in custody. Sources indicate that these individuals were coerced and tortured, subjected to intense questioning resembling “choirboy” interrogation techniques.
This extensive operation has reportedly produced a list of other unidentified members of the rainbow community for potential prosecution.
An undisclosed source was said to have hinted that the deceased, Daniel Ojo, was accompanied by a close ally named Victor, who allegedly witnessed the lynching. Witnesses report that the deceased called out for Victor’s help, but no one in the crowd knew who he was referring to.
The surviving individuals in custody, namely Opia Benson and Dickson Osazee, later confirmed that Victor’s full name is Victor Ogbebor.
This confirmation came after what appeared to be a treacherous and deceitful interrogation, during which names were reluctantly revealed, including that of Victor, who was identified as another romantic partner of the deceased.
Sources indicate that Victor Ogbebor and several others are still at large but have since been named persons of interest by the police headquarters for questioning.
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