LGBTQ+ Activists in Nigeria Fear for Their Safety After Popular Cross-Dresser’s Murder
Abuja, Nigeria – The murder of a popular Nigerian cross-dresser, known as "Abuja Area Mama," has sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community in Nigeria. The killing, which occurred on Thursday, is the latest in a string of attacks on LGBTQ+ individuals in the country.
Area Mama’s body was found by the roadside with a gunshot wound to the head. His friend, Franklin Ejiogu, who is the founder of Nigeria’s Creme De la Creme, a trans and nonbinary peoples’ support organization, blames the recent surge in fatal attacks on the signing of the Samoa Agreement by Nigerian authorities.
The Samoa Agreement, signed on June 28, aims to strengthen partnerships for democratic norms and human rights, as well as promote economic growth and development. However, critics, including members of parliament, have said the deal needs to be clearer on clauses that promote gender rights.
Ejiogu believes that the signing of the agreement has emboldened non-state actors to target the transgender community and non-binary people. "What actually pushed up these hate crimes is the signing of this Samoa Agreement. Media houses in Nigeria broke news that Nigerian government was encouraging LGBTQ+ movement in Nigeria and now the non-state actors are now targeting the transgender community members and nonbinary people," he said.
The killing of Area Mama is not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, several other LGBTQ+ individuals have been attacked and killed in Nigeria. Ejiogu says that his organization has been issuing security warnings to community members on an online forum, and that’s where he hears about attacks.
LGBTQ+ activist Promise Ohiri, known as Empress Cookie, has called for justice, saying that the killing of Area Mama will embolden more homophobic crimes if not punished. "This is a gateway to uncivilized injustices against the queer community, especially the trans community, phobic people attacking us, start killing us illegally in a way that is not acceptable or even following the laws that criminalize us," she said.
Nigeria’s national law punishes same-sex relationships by up to 14 years in jail, and in the more conservative Muslim north, it could lead to a death sentence under sharia law. More than 30 of Africa’s 54 countries have laws criminalizing homosexuality.
The murder of Area Mama has sent a chilling message to the LGBTQ+ community in Nigeria, who are now more fearful than ever for their safety.
