Since the passage of the law criminalizing same-sex activities in Nigeria; arrest, maiming, killing, blackmail, extortion, stigmatization, discrimination and violence by both state and none state actors made those indulging in it to go into hiding for fear of being persecuted or imprisoned.
Such is the case of one Mr. Damian Chigozie Nwachukwu who was caught red handed in homosexual act with Engineer Charles Omenihu on the 15th day of August, 2022 at 26 Kilimanjaro Ikenegbu, Owerri, Imo state.
Mr. Damian Chigozie Nwachukwu is from Amator in Aboh Mbaise LGA of Imo state, Nigeria while Engineer Charles Omenihu is from Obokwu Obinze, Owerri west LGA of Imo state.
Mr. Damian and Engineer Charles were beating to stupor by the vigilante group and the youth of the community before being handed over to the police but unfortunately Engineer. Charles Omenihu couldn’t survive as a result of injury he sustained from the beating.
Gay and lesbianism are regarded as a serious offense against the gods of the land. It is also an offence under the Criminal Code of Imo state which prohibits any form of relationship including “domestic partnerships,” “caring partnerships,” or “adult independent relationships” between two individuals of the same sex. It also punishes any public show of affection, even a kiss, between two people of the same sex, with lengthy prison terms for those convicted of such offences.
The act of same sex relationship is regarded as sacrilege in most villages of Imo state. The degree of penalty differs from one community to another but has dire consequences. Amator in Aboh Mbaise is one of the communities that frowns against that and stipulates stringent punishment on persons found wanting. It imposes punishment ranging from heavy fines in cattle to appease the gods of the land to denial of right to inheritance and right to partake of some community benefits, ostracization, being stripped of a person’s titles and labelled an outcast.
Nigeria same-sex marriage (prohibition) act (SSMPA) also prohibits public display of affection between same-sex individuals and restricts the work of organizations defending gay people and their rights.
Mr. Damian Chigozie Nwachukwu was released from the police net on the 17th day of August 2022 by the intervention of a notable/top politician from Imo state but since then his whereabouts is unknown to everybody.
Mr. Damian has disappeared into thin air to escape prosecution and the police has declared him wanted.
He is said to have also been banished from his community as a result of his involvement in this heinous act.
According to the President General of AMATOR COMMUNITY, since he Damian Chigozie Nwachukwu has absconded and refused to report to the police or the youth to face his punishment as our custom demands, he is hereby banished, ostracized and in essence, his dignity of AMATOR is hereby revoked, his right, inheritance and any other benefits accruing to him as a son of AMATOR is hereby revoked, stripes and terminated permanently.
According to the police, Mr. Damian Chigozie Nwachukwu is dark in complexion, he is from Amator in Aboh Mbaise local Government area of Imo state, in Nigeria. He speaks English and Igbo fluently and He was last seen in September 2022 around Rotibi axis in Owerri.
Anybody with useful information about his whereabouts that will leads to his arrest should report to the nearest police station or the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
