Police elements in Delta State, Nigeria, have disrupted a gay marriage at a hotel in Ekpan, Delta State, several local media reports have said.
At least 100 suspected guests at the event were reportedly arrested.
The same-sex wedding ceremony was between Daniel Pius (the groom) and Maxwell Ohwonowho (the bride).
According to the Delta State Police Command spokesman, Bright Edafe, “On Sunday, August 27, about 9:00 p.m., operatives of the divisional patrol team attached to Ekpan Division intercepted a male cross-dresser, who claimed to be an actor.”
However, after further interrogations, MMI gathered, the crossdresser confessed he was a member of a gay club and was on his way to attend a wedding at a hotel in Ekpan.
A raid at the venue of the male same-sex marriage led to the arrest of the couple and a host of guests.
“As the operatives arrived at the said hotel, the gay members immediately took to their heels, scampering in different directions. Police officers chased and arrested a total of 67 suspects, both male and female, for allegedly conducting and attending a same-sex wedding ceremony between Daniel Pius, ‘m’ (the groom), 22, and Maxwell Ohwonohwo, ‘m’ (bride), 20.” Delta State Police spokesman told reporters
A search at the venue led to the recovery of one codeine bottle, three cups of refined Canadian liquor, five sachets of skunk, one sachet of tramadol, four tablets of Molly Drug, one crusher, and gay marriage ceremonial dresses.
Endafe announced that “suspects and exhibits had been taken into custody,” while “efforts were being intensified to ensure the arrest of the fleeing members for possible prosecution.”
Same-sex relationship is punishable in Nigeria.
Calls for release
Rights group, Amnesty International reacted to the arrests by calling for the immediate release of the Suspects.
“Amnesty International is calling on Nigeria’s Delta State Police Command to immediately release the over 100 men arrested and paraded to the media over allegedly organising gay marriage and put an immediate end to this witch-hunt,” the group said in a statement.
The group said the action of the police constitutes a violation of human rights
