By Ayorinde Taiwo (SIWES student, Gate Way Polytechnic Saapade)
According to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Gombe State, out of the 76 individuals apprehended at Duwa Plaza along the Bauchi-Gombe Expressway, where a same-sex marriage was reportedly disrupted, approximately 21 have admitted to being homosexuals.
Commandant Muhammad Bello, during an interview after a Reformation Committee meeting chaired by retired Khadi Baba Liman, explained that they identified those directly and indirectly involved.
They didn’t impose the status of homosexuality on them; rather, the individuals voluntarily disclosed their sexual orientation and expressed a desire to change their genders. Notably, among the 21, a child around 12-13 years old was identified and separated from the group.
The NSCDC collaborated with health agencies to assess the suspects’ well-being, uncovering cases of HIV and hepatitis among them.
Commandant Bello emphasized the importance of respecting human rights and assured that they were not subjecting the suspects to prison, aiming instead to reform them into better individuals.
A multi-sectoral committee established by the Gombe State Government is working on the reformation of these individuals.
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Gombe State, Joseph Shinga, encouraged government support to help the suspects become better residents, emphasizing that they can still be reformed into better persons.
