Drama erupted on April 25, 2026, at Ayotoz Hotel in Ibadan, Oyo State, after an angry crowd reportedly stormed a room occupied by two men, Aliu Sule and Deji Akinremi over an alleged same-sex relationship, leaving one man fleeing through a window while the other was seized.
Aliu Sule and Deji Akinremi, were reportedly caught off guard when the crowd descended on them.
As tension mounted, Sule allegedly made a desperate escape through a window, leaving Akinremi at the mercy of the agitated crowd.
Akinremi was reportedly apprehended and subsequently handed over to the authorities.
The incident has triggered heated reactions, with the circumstances surrounding the alleged encounter, the actions of the crowd and the fate of the two men generating controversy.
Reports also indicated that vigilantes allegedly targeted property linked to the fleeing Sule, raising further concerns about the possibility of mob retaliation.
However, details surrounding the incident remain sketchy, and no official statement confirming the allegations or outlining the legal status of the men was available at the time of filing this report.
SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS: WHAT NIGERIAN LAW SAYS
The incident has also drawn attention to Nigeria’s tough legal position on same-sex relationships.
Under the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013, signed into law in January 2014, same-sex marriages and civil unions are prohibited and are not recognised under Nigerian law.
The law prescribes up to 14 years’ imprisonment for anyone who enters into a same-sex marriage or civil union. It also provides for up to 10 years’ imprisonment for certain public displays of same-sex amorous relationships and for establishing, supporting or participating in prohibited gay clubs, societies and organisations.
The legislation has been used in several cases involving alleged same-sex gatherings and relationships.
However, the allegations surrounding the Ibadan incident have not been independently verified, and it remains unclear whether the authorities have filed any charges against either man.
RECALL PAST ARRESTS
The Ibadan controversy comes against the backdrop of previous high-profile arrests involving alleged same-sex activities in Nigeria.
In August 2023, police in Delta State arrested 67 people over an alleged same-sex wedding at a hotel in Warri. The arrests attracted international attention after the police publicly paraded the suspects, prompting criticism from human rights organisations over the treatment of those detained.
In October of the same year, 76 people were arrested in Gombe State over allegations that they attended a birthday party for gay people and were planning a same-sex wedding. Those arrested disputed aspects of the allegations surrounding the gathering.
Another major incident occurred in August 2018, when police arrested 57 men at the Kelly Ann Hotel in the Egbeda area of Lagos State over alleged homosexual activities. The men maintained that they had gathered for different reasons, including a birthday party.
The case subsequently became a prolonged legal battle. In October 2020, a Federal High Court in Lagos struck out charges against 47 of the men after the prosecution failed to diligently pursue the case.
These incidents have repeatedly exposed the tension between Nigeria’s anti-same-sex legislation and concerns about the rights, privacy and treatment of people accused of violating it.
MOB JUSTICE FEARS
Beyond the allegations themselves, the Ibadan incident has raised questions about how members of the public respond to suspected criminal conduct.
Even where an allegation concerns an offence under Nigerian law, suspects are entitled to due process, and guilt must be established through lawful proceedings rather than public punishment.
The reported seizure of Akinremi and the alleged targeting of property linked to Sule have therefore heightened concerns about whether the incident could escalate into further violence.
For now, key questions remain unanswered: What exactly happened inside the hotel room? What prompted the crowd to intervene? And have the police opened a formal investigation?
Until the authorities provide an official account, the allegations against the men remain unconfirmed.
