A young man alleged to be homosexual has fled his home after he and his sex partner were allegedly caught making love and taken to a village shrine near Benin City for exorcism by angry neighbours and family members.

Narrating the incident to News Express while speaking on the condition of anonymity, a neighbour, who was also a friend to the gay man named Eki Uyi, said: “Many residents of the Benin community have long suspected Eki of being gay. Sadly, and finally, his uncle caught him having sex with a partner of his in his home when he came visiting.”

The alarmed uncle attracted the attention of some youths of the community who massed around his house and gave the two lovers the beating of their lives. “They were seriously battered until they both fainted,” the narrator said.

The source, who claimed to be a friend of Uyi but strongly disagrees with his sexual taste, said the two gays were taken to a traditional priest for exorcism after much debates about what to do with them and several appeals from some people who didn’t want the gays to be jailed.

“I hoped and prayed for the best for my friend to be rid of his homosexuality when they were taken to the native priest,” he said.

To our source’s consternation, he received a call from Uyi weeks later, who told him he fled the shrine when he realised that the priest had given a concoction to his lover who slumped and laid down lifeless. “Eki said he overheard the priest giving instructions to some people to prepare the concoction to give to him. He suspected he was going to be used for some kind of sacrifice and he managed to escape,” our source said.

The alleged gay man told his friend that he was hiding in a secret location and would be fleeing Nigeria that day to an undisclosed country.

Our source said Uyi told him he called his uncle who warned him of threats from people to kill him over his sexual acts with their relative if he is caught.

Since his last call days ago, our source says he has not heard from his friend, but hopes for the best for him.

Homosexuality remains illegal in Nigeria, and is punishable by 14 years imprisonment.

•Photo shows Eki Uyi, alleged gay man who is believed to have fled Nigeria after he escaped what he says was an attempt to use him for sacrifice.