BY MELANIE NATHAN, July 17, 2024
The Gombe State Police Command has arrested two men for allegedly engaging in homosexual acts in Kanbariki, Kumo Local Government Area of the stateSpokesperson of the Command ASP Buhari Abdullahi disclosed this to newsmen while parading the suspects, Hassan Abubakar, 25, and Jibrin Ibrahim, 22, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.
According to the PPRO, the suspects were exposed following a fight between them after one of them allegedly had anal sex with the other and refused to pay him N15,000 as agreed.
Nigerian Press Reports as follows:
"ASP Abdullahi said the police received a distress call from the ward head of the area at 10:40pm on 11th July, operatives of the Akko division rushed to the scene and arrested the suspects. He said the aggrieved suspect snatched the phone of his partner for refusing to pay him after sex and as a result, they engaged in a violent fight with machetes which attracted the attention of community members."
The suspects were taken to the hospital for medical attention and thereafter to police custody where they confessed to the crime.The police spokesperson added that the accused will be charged to the court after completing the ongoing investigation
Speaking with journalists, one of the suspects, Jibrin said he was introduced to homosexuality by Hassan.
Nigeria has several laws criminalizing LGBT people:
The Criminal Code sections: 214, (Acts against the order of nature) 215 (attempted carnal knowledge) and 217 (indecency laws) which carry 14 years in prison
The new SSMPA - Same Sex Marriage Prevention Act which criminalizes participation in clubs and organizations and shows of being amorous in public (10years in prison, same se marriage (14 years in prison), aiding and abetting same-sex marriage (10 years in prison)
SHARIA LAW - stoning to death any homosexual which applies in 12 of the 36 Nigerian states.
It is sad to see a video report publicly displayed where an accused is not given due process and the opportunity for a lawyer to help him remain silent. This video reflects that. It is clear and a common occurrence for one detainee to accuse another of "brining him into homosexuality", thinking such confessions and turning state's witness will save him from the likelihood of death by stoning. However, the admission without legal advice is prejudicial.
SEE POLICE REPORT AND VIDEO OF CONFESSION. See Confession at 2.10 minutes HERE :
Melanie Nathan, Executive Director of African Human Rights Coalition is a qualified country of origin expert witness in the United States and global immigration courts, providing expert written country conditions reports and testimony for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, non-binary, LGBTQI + asylum seekers from African Countries, to include activists, allies and human rights defenders. Countries include Nigeria.
Melanie also consults multinational corporations regarding briefings and policy for operations and issue impacted by anti-homosexuality laws and country conditions. SEE HERE
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