Okonofua Etiosa Victory Flees After Same-Sex Scandal Sparks Mob Attack, Community Banishment

Twenty-five-year-old Okonofua Etiosa Victory from Benin City has vanished into hiding following a violent community backlash over alleged homosexual involvement, an incident that has not only left one person dead but also triggered a widespread manhunt.

Trouble began on March 2, 2025, when Okonofua was reportedly caught in the act with his alleged partner, Desmond Amandi Dirano. Their encounter, which contravenes Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, drew swift and brutal response from local residents. Both men were publicly paraded through the community, a punishment typically meted out for acts deemed as taboo.

While Okonofua managed to escape in the chaos, Dirano was not as fortunate. He was reportedly beaten to death by an irate mob, an act that further intensified the community’s outrage. In the aftermath, Okonofua was declared wanted, not only by law enforcement authorities but also by the local youth council and traditional leadership.

According to the youth leader of the area, “His actions were considered an abomination. He ran off and has refused to surrender to the police or face the customary sanctions of the land. His disappearance has left many questions unanswered.”

Sources within the community revealed that the incident sparked strong condemnation, especially in a society where traditional and religious beliefs hold sway over sexual conduct. The anti-gay law, enacted in 2014, not only criminalizes same-sex marriage but also bans any form of same-sex relationships or public display of affection between individuals of the same gender. Violators risk up to 14 years in prison, while communities in rural parts of the country often enforce their own harsh punishments.

Okonofua’s sudden disappearance has heightened tensions, with local leaders vowing to ensure justice is served, either through the legal system or traditional means.

“He may have escaped for now,” the youth leader warned, “but the law and the land do not forget. We are still tracking him, and he will be made to answer for his actions.”