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More than 32 persons have reportedly arrested in Lagos over the weekend in connection with homosexual acts, according to police.
The men were arrested in a raid at a private residence held in Opebi area of Lagos State.
The group of men are due to appear in court, according to sources.
The men were arrested at a private party, where attendees were celebrating a birthday party of one of their friends.
Same-sex relationships are criminalized in Nigeria, along with a ban on gay marriage, same-sex “amorous relationships,” and membership of gay rights groups, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
Homosexuality is still punishable by death in the northern part of the country, under sharia law in Nigeria.
Since Nigeria passed a law criminalising same sex marriage and gay organisations in 2014, law enforcement agents have cracked down on people suspected of homosexuality. However, arrests are infrequent as homosexual people live in hiding.
Gay people live in fear and cannot openly express their sexual orientation. They are not protected by any law so they face discrimination with their defenders.
“The guys are been driven all around as police prosecutors want to take custody of the case as it looks lucrative to them, they have been arrested for three days now and we are in court as we speak to plead for their bail.” Says Yetunde Oyegbami-Oluwo, one of the lawyers spoken to at the court.