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Photos: Lives of Nigerian gay suspects after police raid and viral video

On August 2018 -- 57 men were arrested during a police raid on charges of public display of affection with members of the same sex. In Nigeria homosexuality runs contrary to the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act. That law, which drew international condemnation when it came into force in 2014, targets not only same-sex unions but homosexual relations in general with prison terms of up to 14 years.In a landmark case that may reach its resolution soon, the men face 10 years in prison if found guilty under the 2014 law, which has never been used to secure a conviction.

Updated on: Mar 01, 2020 9:47 PM IST

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Men arrested on charges of public display of affection stand beside the gate of the Federal High Court in Lagos. The 57 men stumbled out of the back of a dark police truck into the glare of a sunny courtyard and a phalanx of cameras. Some clutched another’s hand, as if for comfort. They lined up on wooden benches in the dirt, almost all of them trying to hide their faces, and not succeeding. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 01, 2020 9:47 PM

Men arrested on charges of public display of affection stand beside the gate of the Federal High Court in Lagos. The 57 men stumbled out of the back of a dark police truck into the glare of a sunny courtyard and a phalanx of cameras. Some clutched another’s hand, as if for comfort. They lined up on wooden benches in the dirt, almost all of them trying to hide their faces, and not succeeding. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

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Months after -- Smart Joel, 25, one of the men arrested is seen inside his house in Lagos. During the raids, Lagos state police commissioner Imohimi Edgal, told the gathered journalists that he personally had ordered the raid that swept up the men after the authorities received a tipoff that young men were being initiated into a “homosexual club.” (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 01, 2020 9:47 PM

Months after -- Smart Joel, 25, one of the men arrested is seen inside his house in Lagos. During the raids, Lagos state police commissioner Imohimi Edgal, told the gathered journalists that he personally had ordered the raid that swept up the men after the authorities received a tipoff that young men were being initiated into a “homosexual club.” (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

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Juliette, wife of Onyeka Oguaghamba, one of the men arrested, holds a photo-album of their wedding pictures at their home in Lagos. Oguaghamba says he was sleeping outside the hotel in a car at the time of the raid and was caught up in the arrests. While he was in police detention, Oguaghamba said, his four boys were told their father had been on television. “I felt so bad, although they didn’t understand what gay means,” he said. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 01, 2020 9:47 PM

Juliette, wife of Onyeka Oguaghamba, one of the men arrested, holds a photo-album of their wedding pictures at their home in Lagos. Oguaghamba says he was sleeping outside the hotel in a car at the time of the raid and was caught up in the arrests. While he was in police detention, Oguaghamba said, his four boys were told their father had been on television. “I felt so bad, although they didn’t understand what gay means,” he said. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

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A woman and child rest on the floor of Kelly Ann Hotel, where on August 2018 -- 57 men were arrested and interviewed on charges of public display of affection with members of the same sex. “What is the definition of a gay? It is when you are caught having sex, intercourse, with a guy. They didn’t caught me,” said James Brown, a wiry young man who says he had been hired to dance at a birthday party and had done nothing wrong. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 01, 2020 9:47 PM

A woman and child rest on the floor of Kelly Ann Hotel, where on August 2018 -- 57 men were arrested and interviewed on charges of public display of affection with members of the same sex. “What is the definition of a gay? It is when you are caught having sex, intercourse, with a guy. They didn’t caught me,” said James Brown, a wiry young man who says he had been hired to dance at a birthday party and had done nothing wrong. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

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Chris Agiriga, 23, uses a sewing machine. He says he lost his job as a community outreach worker with an HIV charity after his arrest. “I called my director. He saw what happened on TV. He said he couldn’t employ me because it brings shame,” Agiriga said. Before the raid, Agiriga wanted to pursue a career in fashion designing. But he dropped out after losing the job that funded his studies. Agiriga now works as an HIV counsellor for a nonprofit group. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 01, 2020 9:47 PM

Chris Agiriga, 23, uses a sewing machine. He says he lost his job as a community outreach worker with an HIV charity after his arrest. “I called my director. He saw what happened on TV. He said he couldn’t employ me because it brings shame,” Agiriga said. Before the raid, Agiriga wanted to pursue a career in fashion designing. But he dropped out after losing the job that funded his studies. Agiriga now works as an HIV counsellor for a nonprofit group. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

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A gay couple pose for a photograph at a club in Lagos. In a landmark case that may reach its resolution soon, the men face 10 years in prison if found guilty under the 2014 law, which has never been used to secure a conviction. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 01, 2020 9:47 PM

A gay couple pose for a photograph at a club in Lagos. In a landmark case that may reach its resolution soon, the men face 10 years in prison if found guilty under the 2014 law, which has never been used to secure a conviction. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

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Onyeka Oguaghamba assists his son with his homework at their home. But prison time or no, the men have already been punished. In this resolutely Christian and Muslim country, homosexuality is broadly rejected across society, as casual as a snub on the street and as serious as Sharia law that threatens death by stoning. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 01, 2020 9:47 PM

Onyeka Oguaghamba assists his son with his homework at their home. But prison time or no, the men have already been punished. In this resolutely Christian and Muslim country, homosexuality is broadly rejected across society, as casual as a snub on the street and as serious as Sharia law that threatens death by stoning. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

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Chris Agiriga is seen in a minibus with a friend in Lagos. After the raids, Agiriga’s aunt took him to her church and arranged for her pastor to house him on the premises. Agiriga slept on the floor of an outhouse that he shared with another homeless man who had been taken in by the church. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 01, 2020 9:47 PM

Chris Agiriga is seen in a minibus with a friend in Lagos. After the raids, Agiriga’s aunt took him to her church and arranged for her pastor to house him on the premises. Agiriga slept on the floor of an outhouse that he shared with another homeless man who had been taken in by the church. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

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The church pastor told Reuters that Agiriga was a vulnerable young man who had been taken advantage of. He wanted to help. But the arrangement ended after five months during which Agiriga clashed with his roommate. Agiriga now lives in a safe house for men in Lagos. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

Updated on Mar 01, 2020 9:47 PM

The church pastor told Reuters that Agiriga was a vulnerable young man who had been taken advantage of. He wanted to help. But the arrangement ended after five months during which Agiriga clashed with his roommate. Agiriga now lives in a safe house for men in Lagos. (Temilade Adelaja / REUTERS)

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