Nigerian authorities won’t guarantee amnesty for victims of gay dating app scam
Police are urging people to come forward to give evidence, but there are concerns over people's safety.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Pexels
Gay Nigerians are being urged to come forward to give evidence against people behind a gay dating app scam but aren’t being guaranteed amnesty from the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws, according to reports.
In Nigeria, people can face up to a 10-year prison sentence for being involved with gay social activities and up to 14 years for being found to be in a gay relationship.
As reported by the BBC, six people were arrested on Sunday (31 July) for allegedly blackmailing people on a gay dating app. Apparently, the blackmailers threatened to post people’s nude photos unless they were paid money.
The men have admitted, as per the BBC, to blackmailing at least eight people, persuading them to meet, and then beating them until the victims give up their financial details.
A spokesperson for the police, Ramhan Nansel, has said: “Their bank account is then wiped out before they are let go.”
The arrests happened after someone complained.
Around £3,000 has been extorted from the known cases although police suspect there are more victims yet to come forward. Now people are being urged to come forward to give evidence but are not being granted amnesty.
Mr Nansel has also told the BBC he understood why people might not come forward and it isn’t clear if the person who raised the complaint with the police would be prosecuted.
He also said police are interested in pursuing those behind the scam.