Another Night, Another Raid: The Port Harcourt “Queer Rave” Arrests Expose Nigeria’s Daily Reality for LGBTIQ+ People

Olori on the typical state of mind of most queer persons living in Nigeria

On what was supposed to be a regular night of music, dancing, and celebration, over 40 young people in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, were rounded up by the police in a raid that has once again reminded us how fragile safety is for LGBTIQ+ people in Nigeria.

The event, advertised publicly as a rave/dance party that attendees paid to attend, was stormed by officers from the state police division. According to reports and eyewitness accounts, police targeted and detained attendees, with a particular focus on feminine-presenting young men. The gathering was quickly labeled a “queer rave” by authorities and widely reported as such in the media.

Despite being a paid, public social event, the police invoked the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (SSMPA) to justify the arrests. Human rights defenders have long documented how this law is routinely weaponized—not just against actual same-sex relationships, but against anyone perceived to be “queer” or simply present at events where LGBTIQ+ people gather. What should have been a night of joy quickly turned into one of fear, humiliation, and extortion.

Reports indicate that many of those arrested were later pressured to pay steep bail fees, with some demands reportedly starting from three million Naira. For many young people — students, low-income earners, and those already navigating economic hardship — such amounts are impossible to raise. This pattern of arrest followed by extortion has become a familiar tactic used by security agencies across the country.

A protest situation in Nigeria against police brutality happening in the country

This incident is not an isolated event. It is part of the daily reality faced even by LBQ+ women in Nigeria. From police raids on private parties and social gatherings to arbitrary arrests, blackmail, and violence in both public and private spaces, the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act continues to serve as a tool of harassment rather than protection. Feminine-presenting men, masculine-presenting and transgender women, and anyone who does not conform to rigid gender expectations are especially vulnerable.

Many of the women we support have shared stories of having to constantly watch their backs, hide parts of themselves, or avoid public spaces altogether out of fear of being targeted. Economic dependence, lack of safe housing, and limited access to justice make it even harder for many to escape abusive situations or rebuild their lives after such violations.

The Port Harcourt raid is a painful reminder that LGBTIQ+ people in Nigeria are not free to exist, gather, or celebrate without fear. Until the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act is repealed and replaced with laws that genuinely protect all citizens, incidents like this will continue to happen—not as exceptions, but as part of a system that criminalizes identity and normalizes violence.

We stand in solidarity with all those affected by the Port Harcourt raid. We call for their immediate and unconditional release, an end to extortion by security agencies, and accountability for those responsible. More than anything, we continue to demand a Nigeria where LGBTIQ+ people can live, love, and gather without fear.