In the most recent raid on the LGBTQ community, Nigerian security forces detained around 70 youth in northeastern Gombe state after claiming they were planning a homosexual wedding, a security spokesman claimed on Monday.
Nigeria passed a law in 2014 outlawing same-sex unions. Gombe is one of the northern majority-Muslim states where Islamic Sharia law coexists with the federal and state legal systems.
According to Buhari Saad, an NSCDC spokesman in Gombe, members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), an official paramilitary group, raided a hangout on Saturday in Gombe, the state capital, and apprehended people they suspected of hosting a "gay party" and arranging the marriage of two male lovers.
"We apprehended 76 suspected homosexuals... while holding a birthday party organised by one of them who was to wed his male bride at the event," Saad said.
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He added that 59 males and 17 women were among the suspects, with 21 of the guys "wilfully confessing being gay."
Getting in touch with the arrested people's attorneys right away for confirmation or comment was impossible.
According to the official, the prospective bride escaped with other guests, and the would-be groom was taken into custody.
"We will charge them to court to answer for their actions once investigation is concluded," Saad said.
In northern Nigeria, homosexuality is punished by death under Sharia law, though the death penalty has never been applied.
Nigeria introduced new laws in 2014 that made same-sex unions illegal and discouraged promoting civil unions.
Anyone found to be in a verified homosexual relationship faces up to 14 years in prison under Nigeria's Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act.
Saad did not comment on whether Sharia law or a common law court will be used to prosecute the suspects.
In recent years, security agents have conducted raids on multiple suspected homosexual weddings in northern Nigeria; however, none of the individuals detained have been found guilty.
December of last year saw 19 men and women in their 20s arrest by the Hisbah Sharia police in Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria, on suspicion of planning a gay wedding.
Nonetheless, the accused received warnings and were let go without appearing in court.
