Family Alleges Police Raid, Violent Attack Over Son's Sexual Orientation
By Anike Ojo
Abdulraheem Muiz, brother of Saheed Abdulraheem, has recounted how his family's life was thrown into turmoil following an alleged police search for his brother, culminating in a violent attack on their residence that left their 59-year-old father with machete injuries and the family displaced.
Speaking with our correspondent, Muiz said the incident marked the climax of years of rejection, intimidation and threats that began when his elder brother's sexual orientation became known within their religious community.
According to him, Saheed was born into a devout Muslim family and was raised under strict religious teachings that condemned same-sex relationships.
Muiz said trouble first started when Saheed was about 14 years old after a childhood incident involving a close friend became known within the community.
He alleged that the matter was reported to family members and leaders of their local mosque, where Saheed was questioned, publicly flogged and suspended from attending the mosque for two months.
"The incident changed everything. He became withdrawn and lived in fear because people kept talking about him. He was constantly bullied by other children and struggled to fit in," Muiz said.
He explained that although Saheed later gained admission to the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, hoping to leave the painful experience behind, he continued to hide his identity out of fear of discrimination.
According to Muiz, while studying for his Higher National Diploma, Saheed became friends with a fellow student identified as Lawal. Their friendship later developed into a relationship, which they kept away from public attention because they feared hostility from society.
After graduation, both men secured jobs and continued with their lives until August 2025, when events took what Muiz described as a tragic turn.
He alleged that Lawal was among several people arrested during a police raid on a private gathering in Lagos.
According to him, officers allegedly searched Lawal's mobile phone and discovered photographs and videos linking him to Saheed.
"At the time, my brother was outside Nigeria. Shortly after the arrest, the security operative came to our family house asking for him. That was when we realised the matter had become very serious," Muiz alleged.
He further claimed that Lawal later died while in custody, a development that devastated Saheed and heightened fears within the family.
Muiz also alleged that relatives of the deceased blamed Saheed for the relationship and began issuing threats against him, while some religious leaders insisted he should be brought home for spiritual and traditional rites aimed at changing his sexual orientation.
The situation, he said, reached a frightening climax on June 17, 2026, when armed men allegedly invaded their family residence searching for Saheed.
"They came looking for my brother. When they couldn't find him, they attacked members of the family. My father tried to protect us, but he was cut on the leg with a machete. They also vandalised the house before leaving. Since that day, none of us has felt safe," Muiz said.
A medico-legal report obtained by our reporter from Solomon Jayden Medical Centre, obtained by our correspondent, confirmed that Raheem Ominiyi Musa, the family's patriarch, received treatment after sustaining a cutlass injury to his lower limb following the June 17 incident.
The report stated that he underwent treatment for the injury, which later healed with residual scarring. It also documented persistent psychological symptoms, including recurring traumatic memories, nightmares, anxiety, sleep disturbance, hypervigilance and fear for his safety and that of his son.
The attending physician concluded that the patient's condition was consistent with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, the report noted that the account of how the attack occurred was based on the patient's description and had not been independently verified by the medical practitioner.
Muiz said the attack forced members of the family to abandon their home out of fear of further violence.
"Our father was heartbroken. Before all this, he struggled to understand my brother's situation. But after seeing the violence firsthand, everything changed. He realised the danger was real and his only concern became the safety of the family," he said.
He added that the family continues to live in fear, insisting that the attack has left lasting physical and emotional scars on everyone involved.