Family Disowns Daughter Over Bi-sexuality, Suffers Attack As Sharia Commanders Order Her Arrest

By Braxton Ilobah

The marriage between Mrs. Atinuke Ogunremi and her husband Afisolarenwaju Ogunremi, which was once blissful has suddenly crashed following the revelation of Atinuke’s hidden bi-sexual activities.

Sources close to Atinuke’s family in Lagos told our Reporter recently that her parents; Mr. Adedayo Ganiyu Adetunla and Mrs. Iyabor Rasheedat Adetunla including other members of their family have chosen to disown her following the accusation that she was keeping a same-sex relationship outside her legal marital union with Afisolarenwaju.

Trouble reportedly began when on September 11, 2024 one Amina who was said to be upset, attempted to reach Atinuke but without success. She could not control her anger but went ahead to reveal Atinuke’s bisexuality to her husband Afisolarenwaju. It was however not confirmed if Amina has been in same -sex relationship with Atinuke.

As the news of this strange culture became wild in the community, Atinuke who had initially become reclusive, decided to open up to her husband Afisolarenwaju. Expectedly, the husband felt disappointed, infuriated and totally down emotionally as he never expected his wife whom he so much cherished to conduct her life in such a manner.

On hearing the ‘bad news,’ Afisolarenwaju’s family members similarly felt disappointed even as his father, a high-ranking Imam of the Islamic faith instantly disapproved the continuation of his son’s marriage with Atinuke.

The indulgence was considered a big shame to the family and it was gathered that there is move now by Ogunremi’s family to legally seek the annulment of the marriage and reclaim whatever dowry that was paid on her during their traditional marriage.

The issue of same-sex relationship is no longer treated with levity in many parts of Nigeria as it is anti-cultural in nature and highly offends the sensibility of descent members of the society.

It was therefore not surprising that when the news of Atinuke’s bisexuality became public knowledge in her Islamic community in Oyo State, she began to face some severe consequences. There was an instant backlash, as Sharia Commanders in the area ordered her arrest.

Sources revealed that soon after the order had been made to arrest Atinuke, some Islamic youths stormed her parents’ family home with the aim of apprehending her. Obviously aware of the order to get arrested, Atinuke promptly went into hiding and was eventually not met at home when the angry youths arrived.

The youths’ anger was perhaps, reinforced when they could not meet Atinuke in her parents’ home as they promptly resorted to attacking the entire family even though none of the family members was in support of her bisexuality.

It was gathered that during the attack, Atinuke’s parents (Mr. & Mrs. Adedayo Ganiyu Adetunla) and two of their children, Halimat and Ganiyat Adetunla were all severely injured. They were met indoors as they never suspected such sudden action, which some anonymous residents of the community described as barbaric.

During the ferocious attack, some household items were reportedly destroyed including Mrs. Iyabo Rasheedat Adetunla’s clothing and fashion boutique. The family members were said to have fled the community to an undisclosed location following the incident to avoid further attack as Atinuke’s whereabouts remain unknown.

Meanwhile, our Reporter’s investigation further revealed that Atinuke’s father in-law, Mr. Bala Ogunremi, a high ranking Islamic scholar and his associate, one Mr. Usman Sabo; a notorious Sharia Commander were the masterminds of the backlash on Atinuke and her family.

The stigma surrounding Bisexual indulgence including Lesbianism, Gay and Transgender practices is quite high and intolerable in parts of the country. Such practices are considered taboo in most Nigerian cultures and many families do not hesitate to disown any of their children who indulges in such.

The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Same-sex Marriage Act of 2013 outlawed any practice that has to do with Lesbianism, Gay, Bisexuality, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ). Offenders are liable to not less than ten years imprisonment on conviction.

When contacted over the attack on the Adetunla family, the Lagos State Police spokesman, Superintendent of Police, Benjamin Hundeyin told our Reporter that no such incident had been reported. He promised to contact the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area where the incident allegedly occurred. However, he was yet to get to us as at press time.