BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
Perpetrators of same-sex marriage are to be arrested and prosecuted accordingly as the practice is an unnatural offence which remains Illegal in Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force has warned
The police issued the warning in a statement released by its Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi recently in Abuja..
According to him, the statement is a reaction to a recent viral video on social media where some individuals who identify as queer were visibly encouraging and associating themselves with activities perceived to be unnatural in light of Nigerian laws.
“In accordance with the Nigerian Criminal Code Act applicable in Southern States, unnatural offences are prohibited under Sections 214 to 217.
“These sections specifically criminalize acts considered unnatural, such as having carnal knowledge of a person, or permitting a person to have carnal knowledge of one against the order of nature, or having carnal knowledge of an animal, and those found guilty may face legal consequences as outlined by the law. This is re-echoed by Section 284 of the Nigerian Penal Code applicable in the Northern part of the country.
“Similarly, it is imperative to note that same-sex marriage is strictly prohibited in Nigeria. The Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014 criminalizes the solemnization, operation, and public display of same-sex marriages.
“We remain dedicated to maintaining law and order and call on all citizens to report all suspicious activities related to unnatural offences or same-sex marriage, providing crucial information that will aid our efforts to enforce the law”, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated.
He however urged parents and guardians to take note with a view to supporting the police in the fight against such “inhuman activities which are alien to our culture and also punishable under the law”.
