Gay men nigeria
Nigeria: Authorities must cease witch hunt after more than 70 arrested for attending “gay party”
Responding to the news that the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) arrested 59 men and 17 women at a gathering in Gombe mention, northern Nigeria on Monday, who they accuse of attending a “gay party” and making plans to grasp a “gay wedding”, Isa Sanusi, Director Amnesty International Nigeria, said:
“We unreservedly condemn these blatantly discriminatory arrests and call for the immediate emit of all committed.
“The Nigerian authorities must stop these humiliating raids and misusing laws to harass and arrest people accused of homosexual activity. It is appalling that the police can arbitrarily bring criminal charges against people based on judgements of how they are dressed or how they have styled their hair.
“No one should be targeted and arrested because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. The Nigeria Police should be prioritizing keeping everyone safe, not stoking more discrimination.”
Background
According to the authorities, those arrested confessed to planning to hold a “gay wedding”. In August, police in Delta state also
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Last updated: 11 Rally 2025
Types of criminalisation
- Criminalises LGBT people
- Criminalises sexual activity between males
- Criminalises sexual activity between females
- Criminalises the gender expression of trans people
- Imposes the death penalty
Summary
Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited under the Criminal Code Act and the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013 (SSMPA), which between them criminalise acts of ‘carnal knowledge against the order of nature’, ‘gross indecency’, same-sex unions, and LGBT lobbying. These provisions carry a maximum penalty of fourteen years’ imprisonment. Both men and women are criminalised under the law. Queer sexual activity is also criminalised at the state level through sharia law, under which the maximum sentence is death by stoning. In addition to potentially being captured by laws that criminalise same-sex activity, trans people may also face prosecution under state level sharia laws.
The laws criminalising ‘carnal knowledge against the order of nature’ and ‘gross indecency’ were
Homophobia stirred by politicians, priests, papers & the public
London, UK – 20 November 2014
Ethan Regal tells his personal story of living in Nigeria as a gay man:
When I was a young boy in Lagos, Nigeria, I had a mysterious, unexplainable tingling sensation whenever I saw an attractive guy. The stories I heard regarding love affair involved a lad and girl. So I thought to myself: maybe I’m a girl profound down. That seemed like the only explanation for my attraction.
I kept thinking that may be God made a mistake. Perhaps I was meant to be a teen. I never had issues with my body. I wasn’t interested in getting rid of my penis or growing breasts. I just thought that in order to be with a young man I have to be a girl.
Gay people in Nigeria were invisible – constantly hiding. We never had TV series or movies with gay characters so I was confused. All I knew was that people discussed homosexuality with so much disgust.
At the age of nine or ten, depression kicked in as I realised my family would hate me if they learnt the truth. Even in school, I was bullied by classmates. My friends made fun of my femininity. I tried to mix in by playing sports but I was terribl
The Nigerians lured into a trap and blackmailed for being gay
BBC Africa Eye
When Nigeria passed some of the toughest anti-homosexuality laws in Africa, the internet became a place for the LGBT community to connect with others more safely - until criminal gangs went digital too. BBC Africa Eye investigates how blackmailers pose as potential dates on widespread dating apps, only to extort, beat and even kidnap people.
Warning: This article contains a reference to suicide
Living life in covert as a gay male in Nigeria was deadly for Mohammed.
He was always careful when he planned to see someone - but one arrangement shattered his life forever.
The father of three met Jamal online. They had been chatting for some time when he finally decided to see him in person. He said he had grown fond of him, even trusted him, and so one afternoon he met Jamal in town and went back to his place.
But it was a trap.
Mohammed was about to get in the shower but once he had taken off his clothes, a group of men burst in and started beating him and demanding money.
Jamal and the gang made a video of him, naked, begging the