2019 Human Rights Violation Report

The average Nigerian is faced with the difficulty of living in a political, economic and infrastructural climate that has recently been ranked as one of the poorest, underdeveloped and most corrupt in the world. In addition to this, the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act (SSMPA) continues to incite more distress by imposing violence, discrimination and inhumane treatments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) persons or those perceived to be LGBTQI in Nigeria. The country’s deliberate disregard for fundamental human rights continues to degrade the existence of persons whose real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity do not fit into the heteronormative norm that permeates the country. This year, there is increased brutality perpetrated by state actors, on many occasions, persons have been stopped, searched and detained. Even though this affects persons who are queer, it speaks to the larger problem of violent policing, corruption and other illegal activities perpetrated by the police including unconstitutional searches and detention.