57 suspected homosexuals arrested in Lagos
The Lagos Police Command said fifty-seven suspected homosexuals were arrested on Sunday, August 26.
The suspects were alleged to be partaking in an initiation party at a hotel in Egbeda area of the state around 1 am.
State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, said the arrest was based on an information given by operatives of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps.
“The DPOs stormed the venue around 2 am. On arrival, young men, numbering over 80, were met in a hall taking different types of drinks, including Tramadol and Shisha laced with substances suspected to be marijuana. As soon as they sighted the police, they ran in different directions. However, the team arrested 57 of them,” Imohimi said.
“There is something very worrisome about the arrest. Although being a gay contravenes Section 1, sub-section 1 of the Same-Sex Marriage Act of 2014, it is a threat to the moral fabric of our society. Even though homosexualism is an offence, arranging elaborate initiation rites for young men as homosexuals are, to say the least, very worrisome.”
Some of the suspects, however, claimed that they were wrongly accused.
One suspect, a 20-year-old Imo State native, said: “I am not a gay; I went there to perform because I am a dancer. Is being a dancer a crime? They have been beating me so that I can say I am a gay. Even when I told them that I was HIV positive, they did not care. I contracted the disease from my mother during pregnancy. Instead, they locked me up. I have not taken my drugs today.”
Another suspect, 25-year-old Imo State undergraduate identified as Smart Joel, claimed he had a girlfriend and he just went to the hotel to celebrate his birthday.
He said, “I am not a member of any gay club; I have a girlfriend. I have sex with ladies.
“I had visited the venue two years ago for a wedding ceremony and I liked the environment. Saturday was my birthday. I went there to have some drinks when I noticed that a party was going on in the event hall. Around 2 am, I noticed that some guys were running. I had to run because in Nigeria when you see people running, you have to also run for your life.
“I noticed that the policemen had invaded the premises of the hotel. They gathered everyone from the bar, club, and hall. I got to know that it was a birthday party that was going on there. The police did not listen to anyone.”
Another 25 -Year-Old, Odika Emmanuel, said he is confused about the separation of ladies from the men during the arrest.
Odika said, “It was yesterday (Sunday) when we were writing our statement that the police told us our offences. Is that how the police operate in Lagos? I was there for a birthday party. There were a lot of ladies there.”
One Ejike, a younger brother to one of the arrested suspects Amaechi Edeh, said his brother is not gay, as he had three girlfriends.
“My brother is not such a person. We live together; he has three girlfriends that I know,” Ejike said.
Imohimi said investigations were ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court.
