SAHARA REPORTERS
The police in Delta State on Tuesday said the confession of a male cross-dresser who claimed to be an actor, led to the arrest of 67 suspects – both male and female – for allegedly conducting and attending a same-sex wedding ceremony in the state.
SaharaReporters had reported that Delta State command of the Nigeria Police Force arrested over 100 men suspected to be carrying out a “gay wedding ceremony”, in the state.
SaharaReporters gathered that the gay club party was organised at Teebulos Hotel, in Warri South Local Government Area of the State.
The command in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter on Tuesday morning, noted that they would be going live shortly on Facebook to parade the suspects.
“Delta State Command have arrested over hundred gay suspects in a hotel carrying out a gay wedding ceremony. We will be going Live Shortly on Facebook to parade the said suspects,” the command wrote.
However, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), in a statement after parading the suspects on Tuesday, said 67 suspects were arrested.
He said the wedding was between 22-year-old Daniel Pius (the groom) and 20-year-old Maxwel Ohwonohwo (bride) – both males.
He explained that the patrol team attached to Ekpan Division intercepted a male cross-dresser who claimed to be an actor, who confessed that he was a member of a certain gay club and that he was on his way to join fellow members for gay marriage.
Edafe said that during the investigation, one of the male suspects said he was raped at the event by a male rapist while he was under the influence of alcohol.
The statement reads in part, “On the 27th of August, 2023 at about 2100hrs, 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 sixty-seven suspects both male and female for allegedly conducting and attending a same-sex wedding ceremony between Daniel Pius ‘m’(the groom) aged 22yrs old and Maxwel Ohwonohwo ‘m’ (bride) aged 20yrs.
“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. During investigation, one of the suspects named Abel Daniel ‘m’ aged 23 yrs 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 intensified to ensure the arrest of the fleeing members for possible prosecution.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, states 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 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 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. Members of the public are also entreated to call the police via the dedicated phone lines or reach out to the Police Public Relations Office for necessary action,” the statement added.
THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SAHARA REPORTERS
