Homosexuality: Police, Community Declare Man Wanted In Benin

A 42 year-old man, Abel Igbinosa who was charged to court for openly engaging in homosexuality, has been declared wanted by the Police for allegedly jumping bail. Abel is also wanted by the elders of his native Odionwere community in Edo State to appease the deities whom they claimed, he had defiled by his unacceptable sexual behaviour. Meanwhile, Abel Igbinosa’s story is as pathetic as it is bizarre. His Lawyers claim he is a victim of foreign indoctrination which runs counter to the norms and culture of the land. Abel Igbinosa had lived in Italy before he returned to Nigeria. As an adult, he found that homosexuality was a normal way of life while resident in Italy, and he thus became a self professed gay. Back home in Nigeria, life is different.
Homosexuality is considered a taboo by the natives while the offence carries a jail term of over ten years imprisonment. In November 2012, he was publicly attacked while on weekend picnic with one of his alleged partners. His partner was badly tortured while Abel Igbinosa was immediately handed over to the police. Abel has been attacked and beaten up on several occasions by members of his community and subsequently arrested and tortured by the police because of his sexual preference. He was eventually charged to court for engaging in homosexual acts which is punishable by Law. With a possible jail term hanging on his neck if finally convicted, Abel Igbinosa’s problem is compounded as the community head had also declared him persona non grata and an outcast for failure to appease the gods of the land. (46)

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