The Oyo State Police Command has arrested three men in Saki, a town in the northern part of the state, for alleged homosexual acts, according to a statement issued by the command on Saturday.
The Oyo police arrests Saki homosexual acts development follows a tip-off from members of the public, and the command says investigation is ongoing .
THE ARREST
According to the command, the suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence about their alleged activities in the town.
The police said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had been engaging in same-sex acts, which contravene Nigerian law.
The suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Same-sex relationships are criminalised in Nigeria under the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013, which prescribes up to 14 years’ imprisonment for offenders.
The law has been widely criticised by international human rights organisations, but it remains in force and is enforced by Nigerian police across the country.
THE COMMUNITY REACTION
The arrest has reportedly caused ripples in Saki, a conservative community in Oyo State.
Details of the suspects’ identities and the specific circumstances of their arrest were not immediately disclosed by the police.
WHY IT MATTERS
The arrest highlights the ongoing tension between Nigerian law and international human rights standards on issues of sexual orientation.
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It also raises questions about the treatment of suspects in custody and the presumption of innocence, which applies to all accused persons regardless of the charges they face.
ValidViewNetwork reports that the suspects remain in police custody. The investigation continues.