Standard Investigations Desk –Abuja, FCT
A growing controversy has erupted in Abuja following the arrest of a young woman, Zainab Ali, widely known as Zai Shuga, accused of engaging in and promoting homosexual activities in the FCT.
Zainab Ali, known to be a frequent guest of law enforcement agents on account of her alleged involvement in acts of lesbianism prohibited under the same sex marriage prohibition act, 2013, in Nigeria, has revealed why she always ‘escapes’ detention, blaming it on the corrupt attitude of agents of the State.
Zainab alleged that officers of the Abuja Taskforce against immoral behaviour had repeatedly extorted her—collecting several millions of naira at every arrest with threats of re-arrest and exposure to the public. She claimed her latest arrest was a retaliation for her refusal to respond to financial demands made after she was secretly released by corrupt officers who are now alleging that she escaped detention.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command and the Abuja Task Force, in addition to firmly dismissing Zainab’s accusations, called them “an attempt to divert public attention from her offensive conduct.”
They reported that she was first apprehended in the Federal Capital Territory after several months of discreet surveillance but later escaped detention under unclear circumstances.
They said she was eventually traced to Benin City, Edo State, where she was re-arrested in a coordinated discrete operation.
However, Zainab insists that the task force officials continued to collect money from her, using threats to publicly disgrace her.
“When I stopped paying, they came to arrest me again,” Zainab told Standard Trust in a recorded telephone interview.
The officials alleged that based on the investigation, it was revealed that Zainab recruited and influenced several young women in Abuja into same-sex relationships, describing her as a bad influence in the current growing moral bankruptcy in Nigerian society.
Police documents obtained by Standard Trust named Joy Afure, Halima, and Fatima Bello as associates of Zainab in the illegal sex business.
However, investigations have taken a darker turn as Joy Afure—said to be Zainab’s former partner—was found dead under mysterious circumstances soon after being questioned by investigators. While the police have attributed her death to suicide, Zainab insists that Joy died as a result of physical assault inflicted by Taskforce operatives—a claim strongly denied by them.
The police further confirmed that Fatima Bello, aged 18, was last seen in Abuja shortly before Zainab’s re-arrest, while Halima was last reportedly in Lokoja, Kogi State. Both are said to be under active tracking by law enforcement agencies.
A senior Taskforce official stated, “Our operatives are pursuing credible leads, and we will apprehend all fugitives linked to this case. The law is clear, and enforcement will continue across all jurisdictions.”
Growing Public Interest and Rights Concerns
The unfolding drama has stirred public debate about the limits of ethe nforcement of aacceptablemoral behavior in Nigeria and the accountability lof aw enforcers. Rights groups have called on the government to ensure transparency, urging an independent probe into the allegations of extortion and abuse.
As the investigation continues, Zainab remains in custody pending formal charges, while security agencies reaffirm their commitment to tracking those at large.