Gay man Arrested

Police in Walewale have arrested a 21 year old student Yakubu Abdul Kadri at Bugya a farming community in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region on suspicion he was gay and recruiting other youth into the practice.

The West Mamprusi Divisional Police Commander DSP Simon Peter who confirmed the arrest to journalists disclosed that it was for the safety of the suspect he was arrested as angry residents attempted lynching him.

According to him, police are still investigating the matter and may soon put the suspect before court depending on the charges that may be preferred against him.

Residents have however vowed to personally to kill the suspect if he is released by the police insisting that gay practice is alien to the customs and traditions of the people of the Bugya Community.

According to them, the suspect is fond of dressing like a woman and allegedly engaging in sexual escapades with other young men in the community in obscure places.

They have threatened to wipe his entire family if he is not ostracized from the community on religious grounds.

Sheik Mahamadu Alhassan a known Muslim Cleric in the area openly disclosed that he would personally champion a crusade against the suspect should he dare visit the community upon his release.

Residents of the village maintain the area is a Moslem dominated community and Islam frowns on gayism and have always been arms up against persons believed to be engaged in such practices they indicate could spell doom for them.

Family home of Kadri was reported to have been raided by angry weapon wielding residents led by Sheik Mahamadu Alhassan who warned them to take their son elsewhere on his release as he was reported to be a bad influence on other youth in the community.

Family members disclosed that they are living in fear and especially scared for the life of Kadri as residents are bent on slaying him.

The family said they are scared of reporting the matter to the police as it stood the chance of aggravating the situation.

Various human rights groups including the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) have condemned the conduct of the residents indicating its constitutes a violation of the fundamental human rights of the suspect and his family.

They have called on the police to provide adequate protection to the family of the alleged gay man and cautioned the public against infringing on the rights of purported gays.

Meanwhile Alhaji Ismael Ridwan 35 who was arrested for allegedly engaging in gay practice with a number of boys in Zogbele another suburb of the Tamale metropolis has been granted a GHc 500 police inquiry bail.

The suspect who was alleged to be engaged in various sexual bouts with boys of the area and later compensated them with motorbikes was arrested by members of the community and handed over to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU).

Alhaji Ridwan who admitted committing the act in his caution statement was granted police inquiry bail to be reporting periodically to the police pending further investigations into the matter.

His arrest shocked many in the city considering his status in the metropolis who wondered what could have pushed an astute Moslem of his caliber into such an act.