Nigerian security personnel arrested more than 70 young people after accusing them of organizing a same-sex wedding, The South China Morning Post reported.
Same-sex marriage is illegal in Nigeria under a 2014 law. Gombe, where the event took place, is one of the majority-Muslim northern states where Islamic sharia law runs alongside the federal and state justice systems.
"We apprehended 76 suspected homosexuals … while holding a birthday party organized by one of them who was to wed his male bride at the event," said Buhari Saad, spokesman for the official paramilitary outfit the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps. He added that 21 of the male arrestees "willfully confess[ed to] being gay."
Anyone in a same-sex union could be sentenced for up to 14 years in jail under Nigeria's Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act.
In a press release, Amnesty International Nigeria Director Isa Sanusi said, "The Nigerian authorities must stop these humiliating raids and misusing laws to harass and arrest people accused of same-sex activity. It is appalling that the police can arbitrarily bring criminal charges against people based on judgements of how they are dressed or how they have styled their hair.
"No one should be targeted and arrested because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. The Nigeria police should be prioritizing keeping everyone safe, not stoking more discrimination."
Andrew Davis