ASABA, Nigeria – The Delta Police Command announced the arrest of over 100 individuals on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.
The suspects were allegedly partaking in a gay wedding ceremony at a hotel in Delta State.
The authorities took to social media to publicize the event, stating, “Delta State Command has arrested over a hundred gay suspects in a hotel carrying out a gay wedding ceremony. We will be going live shortly on Facebook to parade the said suspects.”
https://t.co/Jv8vSx1si1 The Link to the Live Video on Facebook. pic.twitter.com/edUMJqbxg6
— Delta State Police Command (@DeltaPoliceNG) August 29, 2023
The arrests occur within the broader context of a law approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014 that criminalizes gay relationships and same-sex marriage.
Anyone found guilty under this law can face up to 14 years in prison.
Since the law’s inception, it has drawn the ire of human rights organizations, Western governments, and the United Nations, who claim it fosters discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ communities.
The law has been criticized for being overly broad and for serving as a tool to suppress dissent, tarnish reputations, or settle personal vendettas.
“Choosing to parade the suspects publicly is a harmful and degrading practice that further stigmatises an already marginalized community,” said Sarah Johnson, a spokesperson for Human Rights Watch.
“These individuals haven’t been proven guilty; parading them is an egregious violation of their human dignity and a sad indicator of the uphill battle for LGBTQ+ rights in Nigeria.”
Activists are particularly alarmed by the Delta Police Command’s decision to broadcast the suspects’ faces on social media platforms, citing concerns over their safety, dignity, and the perpetuation of hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community in Nigeria.
As of today, the Delta Police Command has not provided concrete evidence of the suspects participating in a gay wedding ceremony, raising questions about the legitimacy of the arrests.
“For decades, Nigeria’s LGBTQ+ community has had to navigate a legal system designed to suppress and harm them,” said Adebayo Oluwatoyin, a human rights lawyer in Lagos.
“The Delta State arrest is yet another chilling reminder that the law can be weaponized against minorities. It’s time for international bodies to stand strongly against such practices.”
This incident comes amid increasing advocacy and activism, both within Nigeria and internationally, aimed at reviewing and reconsidering laws that criminalize homosexuality.
However, with this latest mass arrest, the long journey toward acceptance and legal protection for LGBTQ+ individuals in Nigeria seems farther than ever.
These arrests add to the growing number of incidents highlighting the tension between Nigeria’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights and the international community’s expectations regarding human rights.
As the situation develops, all eyes will be on Nigeria’s next steps and how these arrests will affect the future of LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
