A 34-year-old woman, Felicia Ugoma James Ushie, narrowly escaped death after she and her alleged same-sex partner, Joy, were attacked by an angry mob over accusations of engaging in a bisexual relationship.

The incident reportedly occurred on February 14, 2023, when residents allegedly discovered that the two women were involved in a same-sex affair, an act criminalised under Nigeria’s existing laws. Eyewitnesses said the situation quickly escalated into violence as a crowd gathered and descended on the pair.

According to sources, both women were subjected to physical assault before security operatives intervened. Joy was eventually apprehended and handed over to the police for further investigation, while Felicia managed to flee the scene amid the chaos and has since remained in hiding.

The development has sparked concern over the recurring pattern of mob justice, as community members reportedly justified their actions based on legal and cultural opposition to same-sex relationships. Observers, however, note that such violent responses raise serious questions about law enforcement and the rule of law.

Relatives of Felicia, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, expressed disappointment over the situation, describing her actions as a source of shame to the family. They revealed that concerns about her sexuality had surfaced years earlier during her secondary school days.

According to the family, Felicia was previously involved in a similar incident with another girl identified as Alice, which led her father to take drastic steps, including sending her to the village where she reportedly underwent circumcision and traditional rituals aimed at curbing what was described as “promiscuous behaviour.”

Despite those measures, the family said they were embarrassed that she was allegedly still involved in such activities. Meanwhile, authorities are yet to release an official statement on the incident, though police sources confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with Joy currently in custody and efforts underway to locate Felicia.