Nigerian law enforcement authorities have arrested over 200 men at an alleged gay wedding in Nigeria’s southern Delta state as African states move to stem the fast spreading LGBTQ perversion in the continent that is backed by foreign powers against and could ruin African value systems.
According to reports, most of them distanced themselves from being gay saying that they attended the event as fashion designers, photographers and models.
Police spokesman DSP Bright Edafe maintained that Nigeria does not endorse or tolerate any forms of homosexuality and “it will never be tolerated”. He said.
“This act is evil and we cannot copy the Western world.” The DSP added.
The cohort was apprehended on Monday after police officers interrogated a man dressing as a woman on Sunday evening. Others were allegedly found dressed as bride and groom.
They denied the claims saying that they were modelling at the event.
Meanwhile 67 out of the arrested are set to be charged following investigations.
In May this year, Uganda’s President His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni made history by reversing ardent perversion push by signing one of the world’s landmark anti-LGBTQ laws, including the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”, effectively irking proponents of the morbid practices that goes against the African value systems and societal norms.
Effectively, just like in majority of African countries including Kenya, same-sex relations are illegal in Uganda.
The law now stipulates capital punishment for “serial offenders” against the law and transmission of a terminal illness like HIV/AIDS through gay sex. It also decrees a 20-year sentence for “promoting” homosexuality.
Hours later, the United States of America announced plans to withdraw key services and aid offered to Uganda after the signing of the anti-gay bill into law.
Foreign aid has overtime been seen as a tool for manipulation by developed countries against the developing states.
In a terse statement, US President Joe Biden condemned the move terming it as a gross violation of human rights further calling for repealing of the law.
“I join with people around the world—including many in Uganda—in calling for its immediate repeal…We are considering additional steps, including the application of sanctions and restriction of entry into the United States against anyone involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption.” Biden said.
Uganda Parliament unanimously passed the Bill, now enacted into law affirming the sovereignty of the Ugandan government as provided for on the equality of all states in the international system.
Biden added that the Act was a threat to those in Uganda including US citizens.
Last month, thousands of people opposing legislation seeking to make same-sex relations legal in Botswana have poured to the streets to protests against laws they claim are aimed at promoting perversion.
Botswana’s capital Gaborone was turned into demo city.
Backed by religious groups, the demonstrators marched across the city to voice their opposition to a bill that aims to comply with a 2019 court ruling in favour of LGBTQ rights.
Some held signs reading “we say no homosexuality” and “protect our children”.
The bill “would open floodgates of immorality and abomination”, said Pastor Pulafela Mabiletswane Siele of the Evangelical Fellowships of Botswana, a Christian group, delivering a petition to the parliament.
The protest comes amid a wider pushback against LGBTQ rights in southern Africa.
In Malawi last month, thousands of people took to the streets ahead of a constitutional court case challenging the country’s ban on same-sex relationships.
Lawmakers in Namibia have backed legislation to ban same-sex marriage and punish its supporters, following a Supreme Court ruling that allowed for the recognition of some unions contracted abroad.
Botswana’s High Court in 2019 ruled in favour of campaigners seeking to strike down jail sentences for same-sex relationships, declaring the punishment to be unconstitutional.
The government sought to revoke the ruling but lost in appeal in 2021.
Gay sex had been banned since 1965 in the socially conservative African nation, where offenders could face up to seven years in prison.
The bill that is expected to be discussed in the coming weeks removes the related provisions from the penal code.
Receiving the petition on behalf of parliament, opposition lawmaker Wynter Mmolotsi said MPs would take into consideration the views of the church.
“We worry that religion and faith are being weaponised to distort the message of the church which is to encourage love and restoration,” Botswana’s LGBTQ rights group LEGABIBO said in a statement earlier this month.