LAGOS, Nigeria (Reuters) – This new 57 men came out from the back regarding a dark colored police vehicle towards the glare out of a warm courtyard and you can a great phalanx off cameras. Certain clutched another’s hand, as if having spirits. They in-line to your solid wood benches regarding the mud, many them trying to mask their confronts, and never succeeding.
Updates trailing a financial out of microphones, this new Lagos state police commissioner, Imohimi Edgal, informed the brand new gathered reporters which he physically got purchased the new raid one to trapped the newest males after the authorities gotten a tipoff one to young men had been getting initiated on the a “homosexual bar.”
Edgal e Intercourse Matrimony Prohibition Act. One laws, and this received in the world condemnation whether it came into force from inside the 2014, objectives not only exact same-intercourse unions but gay relationships generally speaking which have prison regards to as much as 14 age.
“Simple fact is that responsibility of everybody, besides law enforcement, to ensure like antisocial habits, for example public vices, such as crimes, are appeared to ensure that we can perform groups you to manage all of our people away from such as for instance deviant conduct,” he said.
The newest adult cams panned along side face of your own men, trapping terms out-of guilt, concern and you can rage. Many of them stayed silent, however, anybody else replied journalists’ concerns.
An authorities raid, viral video clips plus the broken lives out-of Nigerian homosexual legislation candidates
“What is the definition of a gay? It is if you find yourself caught sex, gender, which have a man. They don’t ces Brownish, good wiry child exactly who said he had been hired to help you moving at the a party along with over no problem.
The word “they failed to trapped me” quickly ran viral. Footage of one’s news conference possess since already been viewed significantly more than just 500,000 minutes. Family members, acquaintances and you may visitors all of the learned of one’s allegations about video that circulated online.
History November, shortly after over annually out-of courtroom hearings, Brown try certainly 47 boys whom pleaded simple so you can a good fees away from social screens regarding love by the individuals of a similar gender. Arrest warrants was indeed issued towards the ten almost every other males just who were not successful to arise in legal. Inside a great landmark circumstances that started to its resolution this few days, brand new males deal with ten years into the prison when the convicted lower than the new 2014 legislation, with never been accustomed secure a conviction.
However, prison time if any, brand new men were punished. Within this resolutely Christian and Muslim country, homosexuality was generally refuted round the community, since the casual while the a beneficial snub in 
the pub and as severe because the Sharia legislation you to definitely threatens demise from the stoning.
One of the boys was a married dad regarding four which states he’d passionate men and women to this new class to make more currency. For a while, the guy ran without electricity because the he couldn’t pay the bills immediately after becoming fired; even in this new dark off their family, the stress ranging from your and his awesome girlfriend is actually visually noticeable to a seeing Reuters author. Another man slept when you look at the a chapel outhouse immediately after their family tossed him aside, up to he had been in the long run cast out-of one to safe harbour, too. A 3rd kid lives in anxiety about the trail toughs just who have beaten your right up 3 x shortly after recognising your in the widespread videos of one’s perp walking. In addition to man who had been honoring his birthday avoided stop however, is now weighed down from the guilt, viewing fault even yet in his friends’ sight.
These represent the tales of life broken of the a party later one-night in Lagos – by a community one cast new males adrift.
The family Boy
Up to dos to the a weekend day, they streamed out of the strengthening, powering in almost any assistance. Within minutes, the latest birthday celebration on a good Lagos hotel turned into an effective stampede given that someone escaped armed policemen who had burst into the compound.