LAGOS, Nigeria (Reuters) – The new 57 males came out of the right back away from a dark cops truck with the shine of a bright courtyard and good phalanx out-of cams. Certain clutched another’s hands, as if having morale. It in line towards wooden benches on dirt, nearly all him or her trying cover-up their face, and never succeeding.

Condition behind a bank off microphones, new Lagos county cops commissioner, Imohimi Edgal, advised brand new gathered journalists which he personally had purchased brand new raid one to trapped the brand new guys following government obtained a tipoff you to definitely men was are started to the a good “gay pub.”

An authorities raid, widespread movies in addition to damaged existence regarding Nigerian homosexual rules suspects

Edgal age Intercourse Marriage Prohibition Operate. You to definitely laws, hence drew global condemnation if this arrived to push when you look at the 2014, objectives not merely exact same-sex unions however, gay affairs generally with prison terms of around 14 years.

“Simple fact is that duty of everyone, not simply the authorities, to ensure that particularly antisocial conclusion, such public habits, like criminal activities, is looked so that we can would groups you to definitely include all of our people off particularly deviant choices,” he told you.

Brand new cams panned along the confronts of your people, trapping terms regarding guilt, anxiety and you may rage. A lot of them remained quiet, but others replied journalists’ inquiries.

“What is the concept of a homosexual? It’s while you are stuck making love, intercourse, having men. It did not ces Brownish, a great wiry child exactly who told you he was leased so you can moving from the a birthday party and had over nothing wrong.

The expression “it did not stuck me” rapidly ran viral. Video footage of one’s press conference enjoys because the come viewed even more than 500,000 moments. Relatives, colleagues and you can complete strangers all of the read of the accusations from the clips that released on line.

Last November, immediately following over annually off legal hearings, Brown try certainly one of 47 guys whom pleaded simple in order to a beneficial charge of personal screens off affection of the folks of a comparable intercourse. Arrest deserves were provided to the 10 other boys exactly who hit a brick wall to appear in court. Into the a beneficial landmark situation that can reach the resolution that it times, the newest people deal with 10 years in the jail when the convicted less than the 2014 laws, which has not ever been regularly secure a belief.

However, jail go out if any, the fresh guys have been penalized. Contained in this resolutely Religious and Muslim nation, homosexuality try generally rejected round the neighborhood, given that casual since the a great snub in the street and as significant just like the Sharia rules one threatens demise by the stoning.

Among men is a married dad from five just who claims he’d driven visitors to the new class to earn extra money. For a time, he went instead electricity given that the guy couldn’t pay the bills immediately following becoming fired; in new dark away from their domestic, the worries ranging from your and his partner was visually noticeable to an effective visiting Reuters creator. Various other boy slept during the a chapel outhouse shortly after their household members put him aside, up to he was eventually throw out of you to definitely safe harbor, also. A 3rd guy stays in fear of the road toughs exactly who possess defeated him right up 3 times once acknowledging your regarding viral video of your perp walking. And son who had been celebrating his birthday avoided arrest however, is actually overloaded of the guilt, enjoying fault even in his friends’ vision.

They are the reports off life damaged from the a birthday celebration late one night inside the Lagos – and also by a people you to cast brand new boys adrift.

The household Boy

As much as 2 into a week-end morning, it streamed from the building, running in just about any guidelines. Within seconds, brand new party at the a Lagos resorts became a beneficial stampede because anyone escaped armed policemen who’d bust on material.