Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested and paraded no fewer than 67 suspected gays during a midnight raid in a hotel in Delta State.
They were allegedly carrying out a gay wedding ceremony, along with engaging in sexual intercourse, at a popular hotel along Refinery Road Ekpan in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The police, while parading the suspects on Tuesday at the Ekpan Police Station, Uvwie Local Government Area, said they were arrested around 2:00 a.m. on Monday.
The command vowed to prosecute the suspects in line with Nigeria’s Anti-Gay law, which prohibits same-sex marriage in the country.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed the names of the suspected gay couples as 22-year-old Daniel Pius (groom) and 20-year-old Maxwell Ohwonohwo (bride).
According to him, the alleged wedding was held at the Teebulus Hotel along Refinery Road in Ekpan.
Giving details of how the suspects were arrested in a later statement, DSP Edafe said, “On the 27th of August, 2023, at about 2100 hrs, 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 the 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 flight, scampering in different directions.
The policemen chased and arrested a total of 67 suspects, both male and female, for allegedly conducting and attending a same-sex wedding ceremony between Daniel Pius ‘m’ (the groom) aged 22 years old and Maxwell Ohwonohwo ‘m’ (the bride) aged 20 years old.
“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, and gay marriage ceremonial dresses.
During the investigation, one of the suspects, named Abel Daniel, aged 23 years, stated 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 suspects and exhibits are in custody, and efforts are intensifying to ensure the arrest of the fleeing members for possible prosecution.”
However, fielding questions from journalists during the parade, one of the suspects who was dressed in a bridal outfit, Chuks Chinyere, denied being gay, saying he was a make-up artist and a model based in Sapele.
“I came for an event in Warri here for a fashion show. While I was dressed up for the event to perform on stage, some police attacked me and took me to the police station. I’m a male. I dressed as a female because I’m a model and I wanted to perform on stage.
“I was supposed to dress at the venue because the venue itself is occupied and I have to lodge in another hotel close to the venue.
“They said I’d committed an offence while dressed like this, but I don’t know if cross-dressing is an offence or against the constitution of the land. I’ve not seen it. I’m not gay.
“The event was an all-white party, and the person organising it asked me to come and perform on stage as a crossdresser,” he noted.
The suspected gay groom, Ohwonohwo, also denied the allegation, identifying himself as a fashion designer and advertiser of outfits.
“I came here for an event. I’m a fashion designer. I’m based in Agbarho. My company is EK Empire. I advertise any kind of clothing or anything an advertiser gives me for a living. I was sent an invite on Instagram for this show. I’ll be offered an award if I attend, as I was told. I was asked to come with an outfit that befitted the event. I came as a special guest. Everything was paid for. They did all they promised me at the event. They were hosting a party at the venue. I wasn’t at the party,” he disclosed.
One of the suspects, however, Abel Daniel, confessed to journalists that one of them (now at large) was having sexual intercourse with him while he was under the influence of mind-bending substances.
“I was very drunk. I didn’t know what was going on. And they said he should stop; he was having sex with me. I said, Stop, stop, stop. I was not myself that day. I regret engaging in gay activities. I’ve been gay for the last four years. I know I’ve disgraced my family,” the male suspect noted.
While calling on parents to monitor their wards, Edafe said the paraded suspects would be charged in court as soon as investigations were over.
He quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, as stating “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 further warns that explicit or implicit public showing 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 the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013.
“CP Abass encourages 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.”
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