Information received from sources familiar with the incident indicates that police officers and vigilantes reportedly raided a gathering of men suspected of being gay in Oju-Ore, Ogun State.
According to the report, several men were arrested, including John Asekome, David Friday, and Ekene Odinaka.
They were questioned about other members of their community, during which the name of Michael Asakpa was reportedly mentioned.
The police and vigilantes allegedly went to Mr. Asakpa’s residence in an attempt to locate him. Unable to find him, they subsequently took the other arrested men away to an unknown destination.
The reported incident has heightened concerns among LGBTQ+ individuals in the area, particularly those who fear being identified by neighbors or authorities.
Nigeria’s laws criminalize same-sex relationships, and human rights organizations have documented frequent arrests and discriminatory treatment of people accused of same-sex activity.
As of the time of publication, there is no public statement from the Ogun State Police Command confirming the reported Oju-Ore arrests or providing information regarding the identities or whereabouts of those detained.