The Delta state police command has vowed to prosecute suspects arrested during a gay wedding between Daniel Pius ‘m’(the groom) aged 22yrs old and Maxwel Ohwonohwo ‘m’ (bride) aged 20yrs.
No fewer than 67 suspected gays were arrested at the venue of the wedding when a crack team of police operatives stormed the event.
One of the suspects named Abel Daniel ‘m’ aged 23 revealed that while he was under the influence of alcohol, one male suspect who is at large had sex with him through his anus at the hotel.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, stated unequivocally that Delta state is no place for any sort of same-sex relationship; that marriage is valid only when it is contracted between a man and a woman.
He said the prosecution would go in line with Nigeria’s Anti-Gay Law which prohibits same-sex marriage in the country.
It threatened on Tuesday when it paraded the suspects arrested at a popular hotel along Refinery Road, Ekpan in Uvwie local government area of the state.
The suspects were paraded by the police at the Ekpan Divisional Police headquarters in Uvwie ahead of their arraignment in court by the police.
Confirming, DSP Bright Edafe, Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Delta Command said operatives of the divisional patrol team attached to Ekpan Division intercepted a male cross-dresser who claimed to be an actor, upon interrogation, he confessed that he is a member of a certain gay club and that he was on his way to join his fellow members for a gay marriage ceremony.
“Acting on intelligence gathered, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Aliyu Shaba, raided Teebolus Hotel off Refinery Road Ekpan Warri where some suspected gay members were reportedly holding a gay marriage ceremony.
“As the operatives arrived at the said hotel, the gay members immediately took to flight, scampering in different directions. The policemen chased and arrested a total number of 67 suspects both male and female for allegedly conducting and attending a same-sex wedding ceremony.
“The venue of the illicit event was searched, and the following items were recovered at the scene: one codeine bottle, three cups of refined Canadian loud, five sachets of SK, one sachet of tramadol, four tablets of molly drug, one crusher, gay marriage ceremonial dresses.
“The suspects and exhibits are in custody and efforts are intensified to ensure the arrest of the fleeing members for possible prosecution.
The CP further warned that explicit or implicit public show of amorous relationships between people of the same sex is prohibited in the state; that any act of defiance is detrimental and deviants would be brought to book in accordance with Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013.
CP Wale Abass encouraged members of the public to help the police uphold the moral standards of the society by being conscious of the environment, and never hesitate to provide credible and prompt information that will aid the maintenance of serenity within the command.
