A rights activist, Taiwo Akindele, has lamented the threat to his life after some hoodlums attacked him for organising a seminar to advocate the rights of gays and lesbians in Lagos State.

Akindele, while complaining about the development, said despite putting in place security measures for safety reasons, the armed hoodlums invaded the premises of the seminar which was organised at a public facility in the Epe area, causing disruption and harassment that sent shivers down the spines of team members and participants who attended the seminar.

Explaining further, the 41-year-old said some of the guards securing the location where the seminar was organised arrested two members of the hoodlums.

Enraged by the development, the activist said other members of the hoodlums linked to the invasion, while acting on a revenge mission, trailed him to his residence in the Ojota area of the state in a bid to launch an attack.

Akindele said he escaped the attack by a whisker, adding that the action of the hoodlums, which endangered his life and that of his wife and children, prompted him to report at the Ogudu Police Station.

He said, “I have been living in constant fear; my life and that of my wife and children, close associates and participants have been endangered just because I advocated for the rights of LGBT people and decided to take it a step further by organising a seminar.

“In Nigeria, there has been a good number of arrests and harassment of people because of their sexual orientation. Aside from these arrests, these people were also subjected to public ridicule by being paraded and the shame suffered from the experience led to trauma that most of them do not heal from.”

“Because of my safety and that of my family, I reported the case at the Ogudu Police Station for proper investigation so the suspects could be arrested.”

A police report obtained regarding the case indicated that after Akindele made an official complaint against the action of the hoodlums, policemen were detailed to investigate the case.

The report, signed by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Akande Ajoke, read in part, “This deals with a case of threat to life reported on May 9, 2021, around 9 am by one Mr Taiwo Akindele, against some hoodlums. The case was later referred for investigation.

“On May 9, 2021, around 9 am, one Taiwo Akindele of No 5, Olatunji Street, Ojota, Lagos, came to the station around 7 pm and reported that on May 5, 2021, he and some people organised a seminar to advocate the right of gays and lesbians in the country at Epe, Lagos.

“He stated further that on the same day, around 11 am, while the seminar was in progress, some hoodlums suddenly invaded the gathering with some dangerous weapons, disrupted the seminar and caused severe bodily injuries to him, other organisers and participants but the security agency quickly intervened and apprehended some of the hoodlums.”

The statement said further attacks were initiated by the hoodlums at Akindele’s residence and a case of threat to life was reported at the police station in the Ogudu area of the state.

“He stressed further that he was surprised that the same hoodlums still trailed him to his house in Ogudu to unleash terror on him. Still, he managed to escape and ran to Ogudu Police Station where he reported the case.

“On the receipt of the case, the police patrol team swiftly moved to the scene together with the complainant for possible arrest of the suspects but before the arrival of the police, the hoodlums had fled.

“However, the police made a frantic effort to apprehend the gangs but all efforts made proved abortive. Meanwhile, all hands are on top gear for possible arrest of the gang members,” the statement said.