By Pascal Ibe

Introduction

The public sentiment towards homosexuality in Nigeria is overwhelmingly hostile, a position that is deeply rooted in socio-religious and cultural narratives. This widespread public outcry formed the foundation for the passage of the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act (SSMPA).

Public opinion polls consistently show Nigeria as one of the least accepting countries globally for homosexuality. Surveys have shown that over 90% of Nigerians believe homosexuality should not be accepted by society and would not accept a family member who is gay.

Claim

A Facebook page, Progressive Nigerian Politics, has posted photos of malnourished persons, including children, alongside the claim that they were rescued from a house in Kaduna State, Nigeria’s North-west.

According to the Facebook page, the house in Kaduna containing over three hundred people chained, was discovered by the police.

Progressive Nigerian Politics claimed that the incident occurred recently.

The Facebook post reads in part,
BREAKING News!!!
Homosexual Dems: Police Rescue over 300 People chained in A House in Kaduna. –
••They teach us Koran and abuse us homosexually.

A house containing over three hundred people chained in their arms and legs has been discovered by police in Kaduna State.

The post generated many comments and reactions.

Some people who believe this incident occurred recently, questioned why the story was not reported on the main Nigerian news outlets.

Verification

However, FACTWATCH Nigeria checked one of the images shared by the Facebook page on Google Image Reverse Search and discovered the incident happened in 2019 and NOT recent.

A Nigerian newspaper, Punch, reported that the Police in Kaduna raided a home, where they discovered 300 persons chained together in Rigasa, Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

The policemen said they unchained the 300 people, including children.

The Police said the victims were from Burkina Faso, Mali, and other African countries.

Other news organisations also reported this here and here.

Verdict

By recycling the 2019 (six years ago) incident as “BREAKING NEWS”, the claim is MISLEADING.