Angry Mob Descend On Gay Lovers As One Elopes Jungle Justice

Two gay lovers in Sangotedo area of Lagos would have met their untimely death in the hands of an angry lynch-mob but for the quick intervention of security who averted the disaster.

Drama unfolded on Saturday, September 6, 2025 when a crowd descended on two adult male gay lovers suspected to be having sex.

The suspects were physically assaulted by neighbours who considered the act an abomination.

The suspects identified as Akindele Akinyoyenu, 38, and Segun Benjamin, 40 has been attracting the suspicion of neighbours in Ogombo, Sangotedo but luck was not on their side this day.

However, in the fracas that ensued Akindele Akinyoyenu escaped before police intervention but without his partner who was handed over.

In Nigeria, homosexuality is unlawful under the Section 21 of the Criminal Code (Penal). Those caught in same sex are arrested, charged and prosecuted. In some states of the federation, same Sex is punishable by death. Homophobia has kept LGBTQ+ persons living in fear of persecution from the society including family members.

For instance, in July, two gay students of Government Secondary Schoool, Bichi were killed. Hamza Idris-Tofawa and Umar Yusuf-Dunguruwa dies while two others were hospitalized. Such harassment has continued despite campaign by Human right activists fighting for the rights of LGBTQ community in Nigeria.

A rights organization, Human Rights Watch’s Africa Division recently appealed to government to adopt the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review that upholds the rights of LGBTQ.

Their report said, “On LGBT rights, member states called for the repeal of Nigeria’s 2013 SSMPA which criminalizes same-sex relations, the release of people detained based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and for ending prosecutions on these grounds. However, Nigerian authorities including the Minister of Justice have continued to denounce LGBT rights.”