Nearly six years after Daminabo Peterside left Nigeria following a controversial arrest in Rivers State, fresh concerns have emerged over reported attempts by security agents to track him down, with members of his family alleging that the case has resurfaced amid growing political tensions.
Sources familiar with the matter said police inquiries concerning Peterside have recently increased, despite indications that he has remained outside Nigeria since 2020.
The development has caused renewed anxiety among his family, who say they have already endured years of hostility connected to the allegations against him.
Peterside was arrested in August 2020 after being accused of homosexual activity near the Okrika Waterfront in Port Harcourt. Police records from the period indicate that officers intervened after he was confronted by an angry crowd and subsequently took him into custody.
He was later granted administrative bail and instructed to return for further investigation. Police said Peterside failed to report as directed and subsequently left Nigeria in September 2020.
A report prepared by police in October of that year stated that the case would remain open and that efforts would be made to re-arrest him if he was found.
Family Harassment Preceded Latest Development
The latest concerns come after a series of incidents involving Peterside’s relatives in 2025.
Family members said community youths repeatedly targeted the household over Peterside’s whereabouts and the allegations surrounding him.
Among the incidents reported was an intrusion into the family residence during which individuals allegedly entered the property, damaged belongings and threatened members of the household.
His mother, name withheld for security reasons, was also reportedly confronted. Relatives said she was subjected to verbal abuse and questioned about her son’s whereabouts.
The family also reported receiving death threats and experiencing social ostracism within the community.
Relatives said attempts to obtain police protection did little to ease their concerns, alleging that some encounters with officers instead resulted in further questioning about Peterside.
Political Tensions Raise Fresh Concerns
People close to the family now believe the renewed attention surrounding the case is being aggravated by political divisions in Rivers State.
They allege that members of the Peterside family have come under increased scrutiny because of perceived political associations and that an unresolved criminal matter involving a relative who left the country years ago is being used to exert additional pressure on them.
Nigeria continues to criminalize certain same-sex sexual conduct. Section 214 of the Criminal Code Act provides a maximum prison term of 14 years for conduct falling within the provision.
Although the original case was recorded in Rivers State, relatives say they fear Peterside would remain vulnerable to arrest if he returns to Nigeria.
That concern extends to Lagos, where he lived before leaving Nigeria, as the family believes the outstanding police matter would not be confined to Port Harcourt.
For relatives in Rivers State, the renewed attention has also revived memories of the intimidation they reported in 2025.
Family members say they remain concerned both about further reprisals against the household and about what could happen to Peterside while the police case remains unresolved.
