By Dickson Omobola

Two women narrowly escaped being lynched, yesterday, following an alleged same-sex relationship near a bus stop in the busy Mararaba area of the Federal Capital Territory, along the Nyanya–Keffi Road.

Eyewitnesses said the women, identified as Jennifer Okafor, a 28-year-old indigene of Enugu State, according to documents that reportedly fell from her bag, and another woman simply identified as Precious, said to be in her late thirties, allegedly engaged in a same-sex act shortly after alighting from a taxi and while about to part ways.

A roadside seller, who identified himself as Bello, confirmed that the two women were seen displaying affection toward each other a few metres away from the bus stop.

According to him, “the women appeared to be parting ways after a taxi stopped nearby when a group of men suddenly approached and allegedly attacked them.”

Bello said the assailants reportedly used objects such as broken bottles, belts, wooden planks and metal items to assault the women.

He explained that during the melee, Jennifer reportedly managed to escape by entering an approaching taxi, which immediately drove away from the scene.

Residents of the neighbourhood, who were drawn to the scene by the commotion, were said to have rescued Precious from the mob and prevented her from being harmed.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to ascertain Jennifer’s whereabouts were unsuccessful.

When our reporter visited the area, residents said the rescued woman was no longer in their custody, adding that her location remained unknown.

Same-sex relationships are criminalised under Nigerian law, with penalties of up to 14 years’ imprisonment, following legislation enacted in 2014.