In a sweeping enforcement operation, authorities in Nigeria’s northern Kano state have arrested twenty-five individuals. Officials state the arrests are connected to an alleged public celebration of a same-sex union, an act strictly forbidden under the nation’s stringent laws.

The operation was carried out by the state’s Islamic police force, the Hisbah. A spokesman for the group confirmed the detentions, claiming the individuals were gathered for a same-sex wedding. Such an event directly challenges the 2014 Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, a federal law that carries a potential 14-year prison sentence.

This legal framework has drawn strong criticism from international human rights organizations for years. Groups like Amnesty International label it a tool for persecution, arguing it violates fundamental human rights and encourages discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community in Nigeria.

Within Kano, a state that also operates under Sharia law, the social and legal pressure is even greater. Community and religious leaders often support such crackdowns, viewing them as a defense of moral and traditional values against foreign influences. This creates an environment where those arrested face severe social stigma in addition to legal consequences.

As of now, the twenty-five individuals remain in custody. They are awaiting a formal charge from the federal court system. Their arrest signals the government’s continued commitment to enforcing this controversial law, placing Nigeria’s stance on human rights firmly in the international spotlight once again.