The Nigerian Police in Delta State, Tuesday announced that its operatives have arrested over a hundred gay suspects in a hotel carrying out a gay wedding ceremony.
The suspects were apprehended at the Teebolus Hotel off Refinery Road Ekpan Warri on Sunday nights following a patrol team linked to Ekpan Division, according to a police statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The police said they had stopped a male cross-dresser who claimed to be an actor; nevertheless, during questioning, the suspect admitted that he is a member of a certain gay club and that he was on his way to join his fellow members for a gay marriage ceremony.
The police added that acting on intelligence, it visited the hotel where it met dozens of persons suspected to be members of the gay group.
It said the team arrested a total number of sixty-seven suspects both male and female for allegedly conducting and attending a same-sex wedding ceremony between Daniel Pius ‘m’(the groom) aged 22yrs old and Maxwel Ohwonohwo ‘m’ (bride) aged 20yrs.
Homosexuality in Nigeria and LGBTQ activities are prohibited. President Goodluck Jonathan’s government enacted a 14-year prison penalty for anyone convicted of having sex with members of the same sex in Nigeria in January 2014.
“On the 27th of August, 2023 at about 2100hrs, operatives of the divisional patrol team attached to Ekpan Division intercepted a male cross-dresser who claimed to be an actor; upon interrogation, he confessed that he is a member of a certain gay club and that he was on his way to join his fellow members for a gay marriage ceremony.
“Acting on intelligence gathered, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Aliyu Shaba, raided Teebolus Hotel off Refinery Road Ekpan Warri where some suspected gay members were reportedly holding a gay marriage ceremony.
“As the operatives arrived at the said hotel, the gay members immediately took to flight, scampering in different directions. The policemen chased and arrested a total number of sixty-seven suspects both male and female for allegedly conducting and attending a same-sex wedding ceremony between Daniel Pius ‘m’(the groom) aged 22yrs old and Maxwel Ohwonohwo ‘m’ (bride) aged 20yrs.
The Police searched the hotel where the event was held and recovered illicit items which included a “codeine bottle, three cups of refined Canadian loud, five sachets of SK, one sachet of tramadol, four tablets of molly drug, one crusher, gay marriage ceremonial dresses.
“During the investigation, one of the suspects named Abel Daniel ‘m’ aged 23 yrs stated that while he was under the influence of alcohol, one male suspect who is at large had sex with him through his anus at the hotel.
“The suspects and exhibits are in custody and efforts are intensified to ensure the arrest of the fleeing members for possible prosecution.” the police added.
In his remarks, Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abbas, warned that same-sex relationships are not permitted in the state, and that marriage is only recognised when contracted between a man and a woman.
He also advises that open or implicit public displays of amorous connections between members of the same sex are illegal in the state and that marriage is only lawful when committed between a man and a woman.
He also warns that the public display of amorous connections between persons of the same sex is illegal in the state; and that any act of defiance is harmful, and deviants will be prosecuted in accordance with the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013.
CP Abass also encouraged members of the public to help the police uphold the moral standards of society by being conscious of the environment and never hesitating to provide credible and prompt information that will aid the maintenance of serenity within the command.
“Members of the public are also encouraged to call the police via the dedicated phone lines or reach out to the Police Public Relations Office.
