Homosexuality is generally viewed as an unacceptable and abominable act but within the conventional parlance and the traditional settings in Nigeria. Little wonders the ‘Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill’ allows lengthy prison sentences for those entering into a same sex marriage, those witnessing, aiding or abetting a same sex marriage, the operation and support of gay clubs, societies and organisations and the public display of same sex relationships.
Recall that the Nigerian law makers, signed an anti-gay bill into law, with punishments including 14 years imprisonment for anyone that enters into same-sex marriage, 10 years for any organization or people that support gay rights as well as any individual who displays same-sex affection in public.
This invasive law made Nigeria the 36th country in Africa to prosecute gays. Following suit, Uganda of recent also passed its own anti-gay into law.
This development is perturbing as it empowered the population and provided a common ground on which to unite and persecute sexual minorities. What the law has validated is the homophobic stances of religious and cultural beliefs that homosexuality is ‘unnatural’, ‘unAfrican’ and ‘immoral’, without a critical engagement with its human rights and human security implications.
Apart from the grave spiritual dangers of sexual liaisons among people of the same gender, homosexuals expose themselves to fatal health hazards which have been highlighted at various fora. It is a well-established fact that the HIV/AIDS virus thrives more among homosexuals. It is curious that despite the restraints that should have been imposed by the AIDS disease, which has swept off millions of victims, many are still involved in same-sex unions.
Furthermore, the Nigerian police force that is notorious for abuse and exploitation of its citizens has now gained more legal status to continue this act as a result of the passing of anti-gay bill into law. Arbitrary arrests and detention of real and perceived homosexuals have continued to take place. This law has exponentially compromised the personal safety of the Nigerian sexual minority, or those perceived or accused of being gay.
However, despite the heavy condemnation and criminalization of homosexuality in the court, some Nigerians still indulge in the unholy practice, thereby becoming an issue of great concern to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the usage of security instrumentality to curb the scourge on the society. There is hardly a day with the report of homosexuality amongst Nigerians particularly within Benin City and Nigeria at large.
Little wonder that recently, the Edo State Police authorities paraded four gay suspects who were allegedly caught by some unsuspecting members of the public engaging in an act suspected to be homosexuality at different locations and time in the state.
The names of the four gay suspects according to the Police are Wellington Aimufua, aged 23, Ighodalo Grant, aged 22, Vincent Sammy, aged 25 and Ali Monday, 24, while their alleged gay partners including one Marvelous Ehiosu, an alleged notorious gay practitioner have been declared wanted for arrest.
Investigation revealed that Ehiosu and his suspected gay partner Sammy were bursted at a certain location in Benin indulging in the crime by the police and arrested Vincent. While luck ran out of Vincent, his alleged partner escaped arrest, hence his subsequent declaration as a wanted person by security operatives in the country.
However, there is need for for Nigerians to shun all form of immortalities and embrace moralities instead. The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency set-up rehabilitation centers and counseling centres across the country so as to reduce scourge which has assumed alarming rate.
