Homophobic attack victim identifies traditional belief system as catalyst for attacks in the country.”
3 min read
An Imo State born LGBT fellow and a victim of homophonic attack in the state has narrated to Umuaka Times why it has become impossible for him to continue living in Nigeria because of his sexual identity as a member of the outlawed LGBT community in the country. The man who gave his name as Chinedum Anthony Okpara disclosed to Umuaka Times from a hideout that he really needed help from some Nigerian institutions and individuals that understand human rights and human rights abuses in the country.
Umuaka Times gathered from Chinedum Okpara that because of his sexual identity, his family, church and village have all ostracized him and labeled him demonic. “Because of this present situation, I constantly live in fear because my people may one day come out and kill me. They call me an evil man and I should be killed before I pollute the entire community with the evil spirit in me through my same sex ideology.”
On why his family and the society in this present age of civilization would act in such a barbaric manner to an LGBT fellow whose only crime is his active response to the metabolism of his body, Mr Okpara told Umuaka Times that it is the function of traditional belief system in Africa especially in Nigeria that has demonized LGBT persons. He identified traditional belief system, political and religious leaders opinions and indoctrinations, superstitions and the role of high profile pastors who usually preach against the LGBT persons as major causes of the tragic and traumatic experiences gay men face daily in Nigeria. He strongly accused the Nigerian religious leaders who demonize gays as the brains behind the litany of family and social discriminations the Nigerian LGBT populations constantly undergo.
On the act of homophobic violence, Okpara lamented that he has been beaten over 10 times in the country and his personal belongings stolen by his attackers. “It is always an ugly experience. Several times the outlawed special police known as SAS and their likes and civilian collaborators have beaten me up and extorted some large sums of money from me merely because of my sexuality.”
Asked if he still has faith in the country despite the high rate of human rights abuses, he wondered why the question should arise at the first place. “You want to know if I have faith in a country that wants to kill me either by commission or omission? A country that glorifies criminally minded political office holders and sends innocent LGBT persons to jail? If I continue living in this society, one day I will be set ablaze by anti-LGBT criminals. There is nothing I have not suffered in Nigeria today because of my sexual identity.”
As the discussion progressed, Umuaka Times tried to inquire from him if there is anything he would want the newspaper to do for him specifically. Okpara used the opportunity and appealed to Umuaka Times to give him a voice. “The society has rejected me and the same society including our religious leaders are giving honours to the youths who have made money through criminal activities. At times I feel like killing myself. I already have depression and death is slowly knocking on my doors unless is done urgently.”
Chinedum Anthony Okpara throughout his encounter with Umuaka Times maintained that there is a silent or pronounced conspiracy to waste his life under extrajudicial circumstances. “I am not a saint and at the same time I am not a criminal. I am only a gay man with no criminal record.”
Some years ago, Okpara suffered serious injuries in the hands of anti-gay criminals who mounted an ambush against him and gave him a general beating. “I spent more than a week in the hospital after the brutal attack. I have also suffered other homophobic attacks almost in the same manner.”
It can be recalled that Imo State which is in the Southeastern part of Nigeria from several indications, has achieved high notoriety in violent attacks directed against LGBT persons over the years. The case of Chinedum Anthony Okpara is not the first and certainly will not be the last.
