By: Akeem Adeyemi.

The police in Isolo, Lagos state are battling to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing of one Okanlawon abass in a mob attack at Akpenor Street, off Ago, Lagos.

According to Police First Information Report, Abass lost his life on November 14, 2025 after he was identified in a video recording in the aftermaths of a mob action against him over his involvement in same sex activity with his partner simply identified as Taiwo Lateef Ishola now at large.

Both late Abass and Taiwo were said to have been caught pants down in a hotel in the locality some years back where they had gone to have fun by some vigilant local youths who promptly started to beat them, hauling stone and other dangerous weapons at them and had a video recording of the incident before they were saved by the manager of the hotel who had advised that the police be brought in.

The manager sensing further trouble when the police delayed to reporting to the scene, had reportedly open a back channel of the hotel for them to escape after he locked the culprits in a store room.

The mob it was learnt identified Abass in the video recordings of them and promptly pounced on him, killing him instantly before any help could come his way, while vowing to kill Taiwo whenever they set their eyes on him anywhere in Nigeria.

The police have however condemned the killing warning residents against a report to self help and warned that severe penalties await offenders, noting that same sex offenders should be arrested and handed over to law enforcement agents.

Late Abass and Taiwo it was learnt had openly expressing love towards each other by kissing not minding the presence of other persons in the area, a development that raised suspicion among natives who started to monitor them in a previous incident in Ibadan 2022 that almost cost them their lives.

According to a close relation of Abass despite having been severely beaten and bruised in the Ibadan gay related matter, where he had managed to escape a similar mob attack taking advantage of a power outage that left the scene in total darkness, her late brother continued in the abominable act.

The fate of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender persons in Nigeria hangs in the balance as the clamp down on them by local people and the police has increased especially in the Southern region of the country.

Several LGBT persons had been killed by irate mobs expressing disgust and disapproval to same sex practices in traditional communities in Nigeria of which Lagos is one.

Besides community abhorrence, same sex relationship has criminalized in Nigeria under the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2013, prescribing prison terms of 14 years and below if offenders are found guilty.