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Nigeria: 25 youths arrested for allegedly planning a same-sex wedding
In northern Nigeria, religious police have detained 25 young people suspected of organizing a same-sex wedding ceremony in the city of Kano, a region known for its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
According to local authorities, members of the Hisbah — the religious enforcement agency operating under Sharia law — raided an event center after receiving a tip-off from residents. The group allegedly planned to celebrate a marriage between two men.
Eighteen men and seven women, all in their twenties, including the couple accused of intending to marry, were taken into custody. “One of the young men planned to marry another man at the gathering,” said Mujaheed Abubakar, deputy commander of the Hisbah, who confirmed that an investigation is underway.
In the twelve northern Nigerian states where Sharia is implemented alongside federal law, homosexual acts are considered criminal offenses. Under local interpretations of Sharia, same-sex relationships can be punished by death, although this penalty has never been enforced.
At the national level, a 2014 federal law bans same-sex marriages and the promotion of homosexual unions, carrying penalties of up to 14 years in prison. Despite several arrests in past years — in 2007, 2015, 2018, and 2022 — no one has been convicted so far.
Across Africa, more than 30 of the continent’s 54 nations still criminalize same-sex relations, reflecting widespread social and religious conservatism that continues to shape laws and public attitudes.