Imo Community Reports Alleged Same-Sex Incident, Police Information Sought

Residents of a community in Imo State have been urged to provide relevant information to security authorities following an alleged incident involving two men.

The incident reportedly came to light after one of the men was allegedly discovered in an intimate situation with another man at the latter’s residence. The information was said to have been reported by the parents of one of the men involved.

A source familiar with the report claimed that attempts were subsequently made to locate one of the individuals allegedly involved in the incident, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

The source said members of the public had been asked to take note of the report and pass any information that could help security authorities establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

However, the allegation has not been independently verified, and no statement from the police or another relevant security agency was included in the information supplied.

Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013 prohibits same-sex marriage and civil unions and provides penalties for specified offences. The existence of the law does not, however, establish that an alleged incident has occurred or that any particular individual has committed an offence.

The report also referenced customary practices and community attitudes towards same-sex relationships. Such claims should be distinguished from the provisions of Nigeria’s written law and should not be treated as justification for harassment, violence or punishment outside the legal process.

Authorities have been urged to handle any complaint through established legal procedures, while members of the public with relevant information are advised to contact the appropriate security agencies rather than attempting to apprehend or punish anyone themselves.