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The attack is part of what seems to be a recent surge of arrests and vigilante violence against individuals and groups perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). These incidents surfaced after Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan signed a law into effect that not only criminalizes same-sex unions, broadly speaking, but also applies harsh jail sentences to anyone found guilty of directly or indirectly depicting homosexual relations in public or who is in any way linked to the operations of organizations advocating for the human rights of those in same-sex relationships.

“What we see in Nigeria is the sadly predictable breakdown of the rule of law that comes after such an anti-democratic law went into effect,” said Jessica Stern, Executive Director of IGLHRC. “Regardless of what anyone thinks of homosexuality or transgenderism, the state has an obligation to ensure the safety of all Nigerians.”

Civil society organizations in Nigeria warn that the past couple of years have seen an increase of community violence directed at specific individuals thought to have committed crimes or transgressed cultural norms, with little apparent action from the Nigerian government to curb the violence. In 2012, for example, four students were lynched near Port Harcourt in southern Nigeria because they were mistaken for thieves. Throughout 2013, the media has reported mob violence against women wearing miniskirts or other clothing considered inappropriate by attackers.

“It is important that people understand that this kind of violence can happen to anyone and that the government seems to have abdicated its responsibility to protect people from violence and impunity,” said Stern.

While media reports have highlighted increasing attacks against individuals assumed to be gay or lesbian in the North of the country, the Geshiri incident is one of the first reports of this type of vigilante vengeance in the Abuja area.

While IGLHRC has called on the Nigerian government to conduct a full, fair, and independent investigation into all reports of attacks, and to move to proactively protect everyone—including LGBT populations—from violence, they have also called on foreign governments and United Nations agencies to assist the victims of the mob violence in Geshiri in finding emergency shelter.

International Governments, including the U.S.A., should do more to improve asylum and humanitarian refugee processes, sorely lacking, for LGBT people and those perceived as LGBT, who are criminalized by their own Governments. Very little, if anything is being done to provide safe housing, shelter and international asylum opportunities for the increasing amount of people being persecuted. it is clear that the Government of Nigeria has no interest in protecting these people and that the newly signed anti-gay law and its subsequent promotion has been designed in a way to encourage mob justice.

Civil society organizations around the world are coming together for a Global Day of Action against homophobia in Nigeria on 7 March 2014, from 11am to 1pm, Eastern Standard Time. For more information about the call for a Global Day of Action, visit: Nigeria 
Same-
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Marriage
 (Prohibition) 
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Day 
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www.pcijustice.com