15 people arrested for Homosexual activities in Kano

The Kano State Hisbah Corps has announced the arrest of 15 persons whom it described as homosexuals. 

TheCable reports that Muhammad Al-Bakary, deputy commandant general in charge of special duties of the board, confirmed the arrest of the people whom he said were planning a sex party.

He said operatives of the agency invaded a compound located at Sabuwar-Gandu quarters in Kano metropolis, where the suspects were arrested, prior to the commencement of the planned event.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in  Nigeria face legal and social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. The country does not allow or recognise LGBT rights.

There is no legal protection against discrimination in Nigeria—a largely conservative country of more than 170 million people, split between a mainly Muslim north and a largely Christian south. Very few LGBT persons are open about their orientation, and violence against LGBT people is frequent. Edafe Okporo fled Nigeria to the United States seeking asylum based on his sexual orientation and was granted political asylum in 2017.

LGBTQ Nigerians are fleeing to countries with progressive law to seek protection. But the organisers of the party are said to be fresh graduates who planned the party to celebrate the rounding off of their programme from a tertiary institution in the state.

Each of them was said to have invited their same sex partners to the event.

Al-Bakary said “over 50 gays were involved, but many of the suspects fled during the operation.” 

He said intelligence reports gathered by Hisbah operatives led to the arrest of the suspects, noting that other suspected persons were still at large.

Al-Bakary said the suspects arrested by Hisbah are currently undergoing reorientation programmes.

In 2014, former President Jonathan passed the law banning homosexuality, with offenders liable to 14 year jail term.