Men of the Delta have arrested at least 67 suspects during a gay wedding ceremony in the state.
The suspects were arrested by police officers from Ekpan Division in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state at Teebolus Hotel, Refinery Road, Ekpan, on August 27, 2023, at 9 pm.
This was made known by the Delta State Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe, who said the incident started to unravel when policemen intercepted a male cross-dresser who claimed to be an actor.
The statement said, “Upon interrogation, he confessed that he was a member of a certain gay club and that he was on his way to join his fellow members for a gay marriage ceremony.
“Acting on intelligence gathered, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Aliyu Shaba, raided Teebolus Hotel off Refinery Road, Ekpan, Warri, where some suspected gay members were reportedly holding a gay marriage ceremony.
“As the operatives arrived at the said hotel, the gay members immediately took flight, scampering in different directions.
“The police officers chased and arrested a total of 67 suspects for allegedly conducting and attending a same-sex wedding ceremony between Daniel Pius (the groom), 22, and Maxwel Ohwonohwo (the bride), 20.
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“The venue of the illicit event was searched, and the following items were recovered at the scene: one codeine bottle, three cups of refined Canadian Loud, five sachets of SK, one sachet of tramadol, four tablets of Molly drug, one crusher, and gay marriage ceremonial dresses.”
Additionally, the spokesman said, “During the investigation, one of the suspects, Abel Daniel, 23, stated that while he was under the influence of alcohol, one male suspect who is at large had sex with him through his anus at the hotel.
“The suspects and exhibits are in custody, and efforts are intensifying to ensure the arrest of the fleeing members for possible prosecution.”
It would be recalled that in January 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan enacted Nigeria’s anti-gay law, which stipulates a 14-year prison term for those convicted of having sex with members of the same sex.
The law was utilised for the first time in December 2019 with the arrest of 47 men by the police in a hotel in Lagos the previous year. The suspects were arraigned and accused of publicly displaying affection for members of the same sex.
The accused all pleaded not guilty, and the court granted them bail. The case was eventually struck out due to a lack of diligent prosecution by the police.