By Our Correspondent
Lagos, Nigeria — A 29-year-old Nigerian man, Chima Godswill Nnagbo, whose whereabouts remain unknown after a raid on a private gathering in Lagos, has been declared wanted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Nigeria Police Force, heightening fears of persecution, imprisonment, or mob violence over his sexual orientation.
According to details obtained by our correspondent, Nnagbo, a native of Obinofia Ndiuno in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, was forced into hiding after being caught in what residents described as an “illicit gathering” of gay and bisexual men. The incident, which took place in August 2025, allegedly saw police and local residents storm a private apartment where Nnagbo and others were meeting.
Eyewitnesses said members of the group were beaten, photographed, and threatened with death before police attempted to make arrests. Nnagbo reportedly managed to escape but was subsequently declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force — the enforcement arm of government tasked with curbing such activities under the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act.
Family members were not spared the fallout. His mother, according to sources, broke down in tears after relatives confronted the family, accusing them of “harbouring shame” and pledging support for his arrest.
Reports trace Nnagbo’s first same-sex encounters to 2015, during his time at Ogbemudein Model Secondary School, Agbor, where he developed a relationship with a classmate identified only as Emeka. Their ties later extended to a teacher, known to students as “Mr. Melody,” whose home became a meeting point for secret liaisons.
In 2022, “Mr. Melody” was publicly exposed, beaten by a mob, and arrested after accusations of luring boys into homosexuality, while Nnagbo attempted to conceal his past by dating a woman close to his family. He has since been identified as bisexual.
The reunion with Emeka in July 2025 reignited his attraction to men and drew him back into LGBT networks in Lagos. That reunion ultimately led to the August raid, which sparked his flight.
Fearing for his life, Nnagbo sought refuge at an uncle’s home in Abuja, but even there, threats persisted. His mother reportedly urged him to leave the country altogether, warning that the police and vigilante groups were actively searching for him.
Rights groups note that Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act criminalizes homosexual relationships with penalties ranging from 10 to 14 years in prison. In practice, however, mob justice, social stigma, and family rejection often exacerbate the risks faced by LGBT individuals. Hence it was believed that in all of these, Nnagbo may have placed his life in grave danger.
