The Nigeria Police Force, Delta State Command, has spread its dragnet with the aim of arresting more homosexually inclined persons who escaped apprehension a few weeks ago from a same-sex wedding ceremony in the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe told newsmen in Asaba, capital of Delta State, that police detectives were hunting for the runaway suspects, particularly those that were mentioned and implicated by their partners.
Recall that over 67 people alleged to be celebrating same-sex weddings in Ekpan town, Delta State, were arrested by the men and officers of the state police command.
The police raided the event of the marriage ceremony at around 2 am on Monday, 28 August), 2023, and initially arrested more than 100 people before scaling it down to 67.
He disclosed that the arrested suspects will be prosecuted for “allegedly conducting and attending a same-sex wedding ceremony”, noting that the arrest was one of the country’s largest mass arrests in recent years targeting homosexuality.
Homosexuality is entirely outlawed in Nigeria and offenders can be punished for up to 14 years imprisonment or 10 years for accomplices on conviction in the court of law.
According to Edafe, “On 28 August, about 100 suspects were initially arrested. The majority of them all dressed like females and we saw the two main suspects, one dressed as a bride and one as the groom.
“There is a video recording where they were actually performing their wedding ceremony.
“After screening them, we have about 67 suspects that we are parading today.
“We are still investigating and we want to assure Deltans and Nigerians that they will be charged to court soonest upon completion of the investigation.
“We are bringing this out to the world to know, especially Nigerians, we are in Africa and we cannot copy the Western culture because we do not have the same structure and tradition.”
The Delta State police command’s image maker vowed that his command will not rest until all the runaway suspects are arrested and brought to face justice, particularly Osazuwa Osaro Solomon and Godwin Onodare whose partners have voluntarily confessed their involvement in the botched same-sex marriage ceremony.
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