Draft:Raids, Arrest and Arbitrary Detention Within The Nigerian LGBTQ Community

Raids, Arrest and Arbitrary Detention Within The Nigerian LGBTQ Community
This article highlights some significant raids, arrest and detentions that have so far been recorded within the Nigeria LGBTQ community. These are in no particular order.

> 'Egbeda 57

The Egbeda 57 was a case that held attention of the nation and that of the LGBTQ community in Nigeria for two years. It was believed to have started with a birthday party held in a hotel in Egbeda a suburban community in Lagos Nigeria, in 2018; a party believed to have been attended by young men and women – but which was interrupted by a police raid that led to the arrest of everyone the police could round up from the hotel’s environs. However, 57 of the young men arrested during the raid were alleged to be having an initiation into the LGBTQ community. Among the victims was James Brown(internet personality) the now popular Nigerian Cross Dresser who become popularly known with the Nigerian slang " They Didnt Caught Me"

> Warri 67

The Warri 67 is a popular case of mass arrest that took place at supposed gay party/marriage ceremony at a hotel in Warri, a suburban city in Delta state Southern Nigeria. The victims of the raids were said to be counted in 100s however, 67 of them charged to court for trial. The Police in a statement following the arrest said they acted based on tipped information from undisclosed source about a marriage ceremony that was taking place in private hotel. The raid however raised eye brows from human right observers and the internal community owing to the fact that said party was a private one and the organizers are supposed to be accorded their right to privacy

> Gombe 76

The Gombe 76 was a case of mass arrest which occurred in Gombe, a state in the North Eastern Region of Nigeria. The raid and arrest was carried out by members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NCDC).The Security Operatives in a realized statement said the arrest was made following a tip-off on a same-sex birthday party and a planned marriage in the state capital. The security personals alleged 21 of the victims had confessed to be gays. The arrest was however criticized by Amnesty International