Audio By Carbonatix
Police in Nigeria say they arrested 57 men over the weekend on suspicion of being gay as displays of same-sex affection are banned in the West African country.
The police raided a hotel in the main commercial city of Lagos where dozens of people - mostly men - were attending a party.
Some fled during the mass arrests in the early hours of Sunday morning, but officers rounded up 57 people who they say are homosexual.
Chike Godwin Oti, police spokesman in Lagos state, told the BBC that investigations were continuing and the suspects would be charged.
Homosexual acts are punishable by up to 14 years in jail in Nigeria – such relationships were first outlawed under colonial rule in 1901.
Laws were tightened in 2014 when gay marriage and displays of same-sex affection were also banned.
Since then the authorities have cracked down on people suspected of homosexuality. However, arrests are infrequent as homosexual people live in hiding.
Latest Stories
-
Our energy progress requires unity, not politics – Energy Analyst, Kwegyir Essel
2 minutes -
Newsfile to tackle Akosombo fire and BoG’s GH¢15.6bn loss
14 minutes -
Kasoa maternal death: GHS assures family of thorough investigation, rules out shoddy work
26 minutes -
War criminal Mladic close to death, say lawyers asking judge for jail release
1 hour -
BoG’s performance should be judged by mandate, not balance sheet – Cudjoe Kuagbedzi
1 hour -
Dorcas Affo-Toffey leads delegation to China on transport modernisation drive
1 hour -
May Day: Lands and Mines Watch Ghana demands safer conditions, fair wages for workers
1 hour -
Brazil’s Congress approves plan to drastically cut Bolsonaro’s jail term
2 hours -
8 NPP members seek court injunction to halt Tarkwa-Nsuaem polling station elections amid deepening internal dispute
2 hours -
Israeli police arrest man after nun attacked in Jerusalem
2 hours -
Central banks, like governments, pay the price to stabilise the economy
2 hours -
BoG losses amount to wealth transfer to banks – Gideon Boako
2 hours -
The Real Greek restaurant chain on brink of collapse
2 hours -
Injuries denied me my full potential – Former Ghana defender Daniel Opare
2 hours -
Kpandai: Man lynched following witchcraft accusation
2 hours