More Nigerians still facing LGBTI persecutions.

Perhaps the Bible did not include Nigeria when the English Standard Version of the Holy book from Psalm 23:4 wrote: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

The members of the outlawed LGBTI community in Nigeria have continued to fear more evils, torture, humiliations in various forms, public shaming, banishing and death because of their queer sexuality as they walk through the valley of the shadow of death. There seems to be a silent war that has been ongoing but got highly intensified in 2014 when former President Jonathan signed the Anti-Gay Bill into law. Nigeria being a deeply religious and conservative society became a theatre of violence and human rights violations against the LGBTI community.

Umuaka Times findings showed that from 2014 till date which is about 10 years ago, many members of the community have been tortured, disgraced, labeled as ritual killers and even killed during unprovoked mob attacks. Quite a few of them who were lucky enough have managed to run away to other countries where human rights are have important considerations. For those still in the country, their lifestyles have become a matter of constant battle for survival as their fear is intensified on daily basis. This is perhaps a new form of war which is not fought with AK47 and bombs but a war of attrition of some sort where fear, prejudice and violence are the modern tools of the war. In order for the authorities and some criminals to win this war, raids and arbitrary arrests of LGBT community members have been carried out as well as forced confessions. There are also reports that both the police and the legal authorities have looked the other way while all the atrocities against the community rage on.

Umuaka Times undercover reporters also gathered some stories of violence against the community members where some ended in deaths. In 2022, in Bauchi State, it was reported that 19 men were arrested on suspicion of attending a gay wedding by the police. They were beaten by the same police and totally humiliated publicly. Some reports also indicated that some community members who were arrested across the country at various times were dragged from their homes, whipped and equally beaten to death.

A good number of advocacy groups have reportedly described this development as a state sponsored terrorism. The reason for this is confirmed upon the fact that many activists and human rights organizations had indeed documented several cases of LGBTI murder, yet no viable investigation was made.

A 33 year old man known as Ifeanyi and popularly referred to as “Abuja Area Mama” was shot dead on the head in Abuja by some criminals suspected to be homophobic Abuja residents. Mr Ifeanyi who was a popular transgender TikToker and sex worker was said to be the breadwinner for his family. He had since been buried and till date, no arrests were made.

Still in the month of August 2024, another trans-woman known as Chantell was attacked and till date, nobody has heard any information on her whereabouts. Some strongly believe she was killed by her attackers.

Natasha Ojo Uyi, was another fellow who had faced a tragic attack strictly based on the mere suspicion of her sexuality. According to reports, Natasha and her partner known as Imade Imarhia, were harassed by some youths in Benin City, the capital of Edo State on the criminal allegations of being lesbians. Natasha was subsequently shot dead while Imade suffered head injuries during the attack. No arrests have been so far reported.

Activists are not left out in this madness; Mojeed Adeboyejo Olakunle, a 44 year old man and a vocal person for the LGBTI community in Nigeria had also had his own baptism of fire. According to the reports Umuaka Times monitored over the internet, Mojeed Adeboyejo Olakunle who lives in Abeokuta, was reportedly beaten to the state of being half dead by unidentified homophobic assailants in May 2023. Reports had it that he was previously targeted around December 2022 and when they eventually got him, his car was shot at as he narrowly escaped.

Also lucky to have escaped death and the bumpy trap called Nigeria was one Mr Oluwasanmi Sunday, a 39 years old gay man who was suspected to belong to a secret gay club called Eko Bretherns. Reports confirmed that the Ondo State born Oluwasanmi Sunday was caught in the act by the police sometime in July 2024. The news spread like wildfire and street boys, family members and the authorities marked him for elimination due to his sexuality. His grandfather who is a powerful juju man declared a fatwa on him because according to him, the involvement of sunday his grandson into LGBTI activities has defied the efficacy of his voodoo powers and for that, the poor boy deserves nothing but death. Reports Umuaka Times is yet to confirm had it that the blood of Oluwasanmi Sunday is needed to appease the gods of the land. The poor boy is alive today because he was able to escape after he received a tipoff of the fate that awaited him. Till date, Oluwasanmi Sunday is still a wanted man.

Umuaka Times investigations showed that around May and August 2022, two LGBT rights activists in Abuja, Mr Monday Inyang Okon and his friend Mr Kelvin Osadegbe were shot by some FCT police officers respectively. According to Daily Times, Monday was killed on August 2 and Kelvin was gunned down in Gwarimpa on May 30.

The tragic stories of LGBTI community in Nigeria have continued to escalate due to unchecked human rights violations and hate speeches by some careless Nigerians. Some religious leaders have also preached in their religious centres that queer people deserve nothing but death. In their own views which many people have described as biased, such religious leaders have described the activities of LGBTI people as a western conspiracy to destroy Africa and Nigeria’s religious integrity and cultural values. Consistently, such religious leaders demonize queer Nigerians and present them as objects of unjustified attacks, torture and deaths.

An LGBTI rights advocate who spoke with Umuaka Times reporters last week disclosed that many families have disowned their sons and daughters not because they are kidnappers or criminals but because they have been linked to the community. “The social climate of Nigeria today is a dangerous pedestal nobody in the community can stand on; it has been able to create fear and stigma that will always carry out jungle justice against the community.”

Media silence is another tragedy that helps to water the tree of homophobic attacks in Nigeria. The media usually often ignores the rights violations that occur in the LGBTI enclave across Nigeria. Some have even alleged that the media is somehow working with the state actors and religious bodies to demonize the community. As it stands now, those who have lost their lives have gone forever and those on the run may not return to Nigeria again. What happens to those poor ones who may fall victim tomorrow in the country?