In a recent development, law enforcement authorities have apprehended over 100 individuals suspected of being involved in a same-sex wedding ceremony in Delta State.
According to a tweet released on Tuesday, the police confirmed the arrests and announced their intention to present the suspects to the public for further information.
The incident harkens back to January 2014 when former President Goodluck Jonathan passed a law criminalizing same-sex relationships in Nigeria. The legislation imposes a 14-year prison sentence on individuals found guilty of engaging in sexual activities with persons of the same gender.
Subsequently, the anti-gay law was first enforced in December 2019, when the police detained 47 men who had gathered in a Lagos hotel the previous year. These individuals were charged with openly displaying affection towards individuals of the same sex.
Upon their arraignment, all the accused individuals pleaded not guilty, and the court subsequently granted them bail. In a surprising turn of events, the case eventually fizzled out due to the police’s perceived lack of diligent prosecution.
The recent arrests in Delta State serve as a reminder of the ongoing societal and legal challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Nigeria. The clash between cultural, legal, and human rights perspectives continues to be a contentious issue that garners significant attention both domestically and internationally.
