One Vivian Chinamerem Ofoegbu narrated her ordeal to our correspondence through phone conversation over her involvement in homosexuality.
Homosexuality popularly known as (Gay) is an attraction between people who are of the same sex or gender. It is illegal in Nigeria and punishable offence by the law, prohibition under session 42 of Nigeria constitution prescribing up to 14 years in prison for violation.
Homosexuality is also a taboo and abomination in Nigeria and is against the culture and custom of the people.
Vivian who was born in 08/08/2003 in Kano State Nigeria, an indigene of Imo State and grew up in Lagos State and lost her father at tender age of 12 spoke to our correspondence that when she was 13 years old that she started admiring pretty ladies like her and by the time she got to the age of 16, she started having romantic affairs with girls who were her peers most especially Blessing and Ruth, she said her sexual intercourse with these girls started between 2009 to 2019.
She stated that her problems started sometimes in December 12, 2019 when she was caught with her long time female friend Stella who was equally her former classmate and whose parents are strong Muslim but unknown to her people in the community started monitoring their relationship quietly and suspecting that they are lesbians.
She narrated further that her problem reached the climax on 06/05/2022 she was cut in the act at her house in Iganmu, Lagos and a group of angry Muslim came to her house and raised alarm shouting abomination and called neighbours that she has been sleeping with different girls and recruiting them into homosexuality which is against the custom and tradition of the community is even a taboo.
Vivian also lamented that to her dismayed that a mob had gathered with different types of weapons and forced her door opened and she was beating and rushed to nearby government hospital while Stella was taken away by local vigilantes as the act was a taboo and abomination to the community and local vigilantes were also called to arrest her and her partner (Stella) to handover them to the police but she said due to the assistance of her mother who was well known by the vigilantes and promised them that she will rehabilitate Vivian that they should not arrest her.
He further explained that her mother was not happy that Vivian has brought shame and stigma to the family for her involvement in homosexuality and that her mother called her brother who happened to be a pastor to preach to her on the evils behind homosexual.
Vivian said due to stigma she relocated to Warri in Delta State in July 14 2023 and later to Owerri, Imo State
She further explained to our correspondence that she was equally informed that the Police thereafter has declared her wanted and implored anyone with any useful information about her whereabouts to contact the nearest police station as various attempts to arrest and prosecute her have proven abortive.
This encouraged her to relocate to her new abode and left Nigeria in July 3, 2024 so as to prevent been arrested and prosecuted and if find guilty she will be sentence to 14 years in prison as stipulated by Nigeria law on homosexuality.