House Wife, Daughter Face Danger In Edo State As Attackers Hunt For Husband Over Gay Accusation

By Odion Okpaleke

The family members of a young Nigerian, Mr. Raymond Peter Asiwe who is currently on holidays in far away Canada now live in serious danger as members of a local vigilante group have vowed to destroy them if they fail to produce Raymond soonest for his alleged involvement in gay practice.

The vigilante members were alleged to have hired some thugs whom they ordered to go after Raymond in their family residence at Ugbor, a suburb of Benin-City, the Edo State capital on 8th October, 2024. Ironically, they did not know he was out of the country.

A very reliable source close to the family told Atlanticnewsonline that trouble began when a lady identified as Mrs. Zainab Zakari who lives in the same community with Raymond’s family allegedly told people that Raymond has covertly been engaging in same-sex relationship with some boys even though he is legally married to a wife with whom, he has a daughter.

The source revealed that when the community vigilante leader heard the story, he was livid with anger as the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) culture is seriously considered an abnormal indulgence which is even a punishable offence in Nigeria.

The vigilante commander identified as Mr. Godwin Omoruyi was alleged to have assembled his members in a meeting where a decision was taken for them to hire some street urchins to storm the residence of Raymond’s family with a view to arresting him and possibly hand him over to police or take laws into their hands.

Incidentally, they could not meet him at home. They did not know he has travelled out of the country. A friend of his (name withheld) told our Reporter that Raymond has gone to Canada “on holidays.”

It was gathered that as the mob did not meet Raymond at home, they confronted his wife whom they met with their daughter. Initially, the wife was said to have put up a defense telling them that her husband was not into Gay practice but the urchins and the vigilante people who hired them got angry with her.

Consequently, they descended on her, destroying any of her valuables in sight at their residence. Her boutique which was located at the front of the family residence was not spared as the mob looted and vandalized it.

Our sources confirmed that Raymond’s wife suffered serious body injuries while she was being dragged out of the house and beaten.

Since her husband was not met at home, the vigilante leader had reportedly given Raymond’s wife one week grace to produce him or face more serious attack if he is not found. This threat has incidentally prompted the woman to go into hiding with her daughter as nobody could determine the consequences of a repeat attack.

Meanwhile, another source close to the Asiwe family in their Ugbor residence revealed that family of Raymond’s wife is equally not happy with the attack on their daughter obviously because of her husband. They are said to be mounting pressure on Raymond’s family to get him back just as his wife has reportedly called to tell him that his life is in danger with the threat by the community vigilante commander and local youths who were looking for him.

As at press time, efforts to speak with the Edo State Police Command’s spokesman could not yield fruitful result as he could not be reached on his GSM line when our Reporter called severally to ascertain if the matter had officially been reported.

No member of the Raymond Peter Asiwe family in Ugbor, Benin-City could be reached also as they have allegedly gone into hiding for fear of further attack.