The parents of 21 year-old Adebiyi Oluwatimilehin Ridwan will not forget in a hurry the deadly protest that rocks their abode on the 3rd of February 2020 at Abesan Housing estate, Ipaja.
The protesters numbering about 35 were calling for Ridwan’s head, who they accused of being a member of a group initiating the teenage boys in the community into homosexualism.
Meanwhile, investigations later revealed Ridwan was new in the act and the night of the arrest of some members of the group was his first night out with his gay partner contrary to the general assumption in his community.
The whereabout of Ridwan has been unknown since the incident happened, a development which has further stigmatized some members of his family.
It will be recalled that Ridwan was among those that were busted by the Lagos State police command during the inauguration of an LGBT club in an hotel at Alimosho area of Lagos on August 26, 2019.
No fewer than 35 out of about 87 suspected intending members of the club were arrested while others escaped including Ridwan.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, who paraded the suspects, said that at about 3:00a.m. intelligence gathered revealed that some youths (males) were about to be initiated into a gay/homosexual/bisexual club between 1:00a.m. and 2:00a.m. at Holad Hotel/Event Centre, in Alimosho an action contrary to section 1 (1) of The Operatives led by DPO Shasha and DPO Idimu stormed the venue at 2:00a.m.
As soon as they sighted the police, they ran into different directions. However, the team arrested 35 of them.
The Commissioner of Police said the essence of parading the suspects was to sensitize the public about the new wave of crime in the state.
“The youths have graduated from cultism to LGBT. This is a dangerous dimension. We must stop them before they infiltrate our streets and schools. This war against same sex should not be left for the security agencies alone.
“We are fighting cultism, drugs and at the same time homosexuality. I think all hands must be on the deck to stop this act. Information was received from a sister agency, it is commendable. I appeal to members of the public to emulate the informant and give us reasonable information that will lead to the arrest of suspected gays. We are on the trail of others now on the run.
“I want to advise parents to be wary of the people their children move with and where they go to at a particular time. Investigation into the case is ongoing,” CP Imohimi Edgal said.
Speaking with one of the suspects, Madu, who was adorning a female dress, lipsticks and eyelids, he said: “Actually, I came for the initiation.
“We were waiting for the master who will initiate us when the police stormed and arrested us. I cannot say that everyone arrested came for the same purpose, but majority of us came for the initiation.
