Mass Arrests Target LGBTQ+ Community in Nigeria Amidst Ignored Human Rights Abuses

Crackdown on alleged LGBTQ+ activities escalates as Nigerian law enforcement misuse same-sex prohibition laws, conducting mass arrests without due process and overlooking rising instances of abuse, say rights advocates.

• Nigerian law enforcement authorities are increasingly using the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2013 to target and arrest members of the LGBTQ+ community, often without due process or proper investigations. These mass arrests and detentions, which have escalated recently, are further endangering an already vulnerable population amidst prevalent anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments in the country.
• The recent wave of arrests includes more than 70 young people nabbed by the country’s paramilitary agency in the northern Gombe state. The authorities accused them of organizing a homosexual gathering, a claim refuted by the suspects who insist they were celebrating a birthday.
• A similar crackdown occurred earlier in Delta state, where more than 60 people were arrested during a supposed gay wedding. Subsequent public broadcasting of the suspects, a violation of the nation’s constitution, further exemplifies the widespread disregard for LGBTQ+ rights in Nigeria.
• Despite the country's constitution guaranteeing freedom from discrimination, Nigeria, home to over 210 million people, broadly supports anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The 2013 Act punishes gay marriage with up to 14 years in prison, forcing many in the LGBTQ+ community to flee Nigeria.
• Critics argue that the police often fail to act on reported cases of LGBTQ+ abuse or harassment. In one talked-about case, a gay man named David Bakare, who was beaten up after sharing a dance video, received no protection from the police despite multiple complaints and had to relocate within Lagos for his safety.

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