Hisbah religious police arrest 19 youths in Kano for attending same sex wedding

NINETEEN youths have been arrested by the Kano State Hisbah Board for attending a same-sex marriage ceremony and face being charged to court under the country's Same Sex Marriage Act of 2014.

Nigeria is a country that shows very little tolerance for homosexuality despite having a large population of lesbians and gays. Among other things, Nigeria has very Draconian anti-gay laws and anyone found guilty of committing a homosexual act can face up to 14 years in prison under the country's Same Sex Marriage Act of 2014.

Across Nigeria, hundreds of lesbians and gays have been arrested since the passing of the Same Sex Marriage Act in 2014. In states across northern Nigeria, any Muslim convicted of the offence could be stoned to death under the harsh Sharia laws being practised in that part of the country.

Hisbah spokesman, Mallam Lawan Ibrahim, said that the youths were gathered to witness the wedding of two suspected homosexuals, Abba and Mujahid. He said: “The arrest was made after a good Samaritan hinted the board about the same-sex marriage.

“Our personnel attached to Hisbah board headquarters, Sharada Kano, arrived at the scene before the commencement of the wedding. Among those arrested were 15 females and four males.

“Abba and Mujahid escaped immediately Hisbah personnel arrived at the wedding venue but the organiser, Salma Usman, 21, is in our custody. Those arrested will be handed over to the police for necessary action as most of the ladies claimed they were invited to the wedding from neighbouring states and we shall intensify efforts to ensure that Abba and Mujahid are arrested."