The Ogun State Police Command has raided an LGBTQ gathering at an hotel in Obada-Oko, Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state, with some attendees reportedly fleeing the scene to avoid arrest.
The incident, according to the police, occurred in February 2025 following intelligence that an unauthorised gathering was being organised at the hotel.
Police authorities said officers moved to the location after receiving the information and arrested some of the attendees, while others reportedly escaped before the operation was concluded.
The command also said several items, including mobile phones, personal belongings and sex toys, were recovered during the raid.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, DSP Seyi Babaseyi, confirmed the operation and said the command was still making efforts to apprehend those who allegedly escaped.
Babaseyi said the gathering involved people suspected by the police to be associated with LGBTQ activities.
He said the investigation was being supported by materials allegedly recovered from the suspects and the venue.
According to him, examination of some of the seized mobile phones revealed communications and materials which the police considered evidence of same-sex relationships and other activities.
The police spokesperson said those linked to the gathering included Tunde Olanrewaju, Moshood Aremu Ibilola, Tayo Sokunbi, Obembe Sunday Osuolale and Laide Kareem, among others.
He said the command would continue its investigation and make efforts to locate suspects who allegedly fled the scene.
“The unfortunate thing was that when we went through the phones that were seized from the venue, we saw what we considered obscene acts,” Babaseyi said, adding that the police would pursue the investigation.
The raid comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s restrictive legal framework concerning same-sex relationships and LGBTQ-related organisations.
The Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, signed into law in January 2014, prohibits same-sex marriages and civil unions and provides penalties for certain related activities.
The law also prohibits participation in, operation of, or support for gay clubs, societies and organisations, as well as public displays of same-sex amorous relationships. It prescribes different penalties for offences covered by the legislation.
Separately, provisions of Nigeria’s criminal law criminalise certain same-sex sexual activities.
Human rights organisations and United Nations bodies have, however, repeatedly raised concerns about harassment, violence, arbitrary arrests and detention of people based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Ogun incident is therefore likely to attract further attention to the enforcement of Nigeria’s laws relating to same-sex relationships and the protection of the rights of persons accused or suspected of violating them.
The police said investigations into the February 2025 incident remain ongoing.
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