Nigeria Detains Dozens in Latest Crackdown on LGBTQ Rights

Abuja, Nigeria - In a disturbing turn of events, Nigerian police detained at least 67 individuals who were attending a same-sex wedding ceremony in Delta state's Ekpan town. This mass detention is one of the largest scale arrests targeting the LGBTQ community in the country.

The arrests were made in the early hours of Monday, as the police raided a hotel where the wedding was taking place. This incident once again reflects the deep-rooted discrimination and human rights violations faced by LGBTQ individuals in Nigeria.

Under the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, enacted in 2013, homosexuality is illegal, and individuals found guilty can face up to 14 years in prison. The law also criminalizes so-called "accomplices," who can be sentenced to 10 years in prison.

While there is international condemnation of this law, it continues to be supported by many in Nigeria, reflecting the challenge faced by LGBTQ individuals in the country to gain acceptance and respect.

Amnesty International's Nigeria office has strongly condemned these arrests and called for an immediate end to the targeted persecution of LGBTQ individuals.

Isa Sanusi, the organization's director in Nigeria, stated that the law against same-sex relationships is increasingly being used for harassment, extortion, and blackmail. Sanusi added, "In a society where corruption is rampant, this law banning same-sex relationships is increasingly being used for harassment, extortion, and blackmail of people."

The police, however, defended their actions, highlighting that homosexuality is not tolerated in Nigeria and that they cannot allow individuals to openly express their sexual orientation in the country.

One of the police spokespeople, Bright Edafe, stated, "We are in Africa and we are in Nigeria. We cannot copy the Western world because we don't have the same culture."

The arrested individuals were paraded at a police station, where investigations are ongoing. The police have indicated that the suspects will be charged in court at the end of the investigation.

It is important to note that this is not the first instance of mass arrests targeting the LGBTQ community in Nigeria. In 2017, over 40 individuals were apprehended under similar circumstances.

These arrests reflect a worrying trend in many African countries where laws criminalizing same-sex relationships are being enacted. The situation has reached a critical point with Uganda signing a law with the death penalty as punishment in certain instances.

This latest crackdown on LGBTQ rights in Nigeria serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community in the fight for equal rights and the urgent need for global intervention to support human rights for all.

Source of content: OOO News 2023-08-29 News

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