Police to arrest Nigerians featured in on-line LGBTQ video problem

The Nigerian police have ordered the arrest of some individuals who claimed to belong to the Nigerian lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) neighborhood, in a video clip they featured.

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson of the Drive headquarters, gave the order in a press release posted on X on Thursday.

PREMIUM TIMES, Wednesday, reported that the police mentioned they have been investigating the viral video after Mr Adejobi’s consideration was drawn to it by an X consumer.

Within the 50-second video, 4 males and three females mentioned to be taking part in an internet LGBTQ problem, confessed to being bisexual, lesbian, transgender and homosexual.

Mr Adejobi, an assistant commissioner of police, whereas responding to the video, had described the individuals featured in it as “criminals”. He added that their actions have been punishable below the Nigerian legislation.

Within the assertion on Thursday, the power spokesperson described the offences as “unnatural” including it was unlawful below the nation’s legislation.

“In accordance with the Nigerian Felony Code Act relevant in Southern States, unnatural offences are prohibited below Sections 214 to 217.

“These sections particularly criminalise acts thought of unnatural, resembling having carnal data of an individual, or allowing an individual to have carnal data of 1 towards the order of nature, or having carnal data of an animal, and people discovered responsible could face authorized penalties as outlined by the legislation.

“That is re-echoed by Part 284 of the Nigerian Penal Code relevant within the Northern a part of the nation.

“Equally, it’s crucial to notice that same-sex marriage is strictly prohibited in Nigeria. The Similar-Intercourse Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014 criminalises the solemnisation, operation, and public show of same-sex marriages.

“We, due to this fact, emphasise the significance of understanding and adhering to those legal guidelines as any violation might be met with due authorized processes. We have to collectively kick towards such whereas we urge dad and mom and guardians to take be aware and help the Police within the combat towards such inhuman actions that are alien to our tradition and in addition punishable below the legislation,” he mentioned.

Nigeria’s anti-gay legislation as enacted in 2014 stipulates a 14-year jail time period for anybody convicted of getting intercourse with members of the identical intercourse.

The legislation was first put to check in December 2019 when 47 males arrested by the police in a resort in Lagos the earlier yr have been arraigned in court docket over allegations of publicly displaying affection for members of the identical intercourse. 

The suspects all pleaded not responsible and have been granted bail however the case was later struck out by a federal decide for “lack of diligence prosecution” by the police.