A 48-year-old father of three named Mr. Shamsidin Adelaja who is Identified as bisexual and a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights narrowly escaped death by security and locals in the Wagbare suburb of Ikorodu, Lagos.
According to a community leader, who spoke to our crime correspondent on the condition of anonymity, while the police had declared Mr. Shamsidin Adelaja wanted to come face the law, irate Wagbare community had launched manhunt for him.
Giving insight into the case, he disclosed that Adelaja is not a first-time felon. He had cheated death in 2019 when LGBTQ community was clamped upon. It happened that Adelaja and his bisexual partner were caught dress down. The partner was tragically lynched years ago in a brutal act of homophobic violence. Having escaped “justice” then, he went into hiding after anti-LGBTQ agents had declared him wanted which was fuelled by fervent religious decrees.
Adelaja stealthily relocated to Kano and, like leopard which will never change its accustomed skin, he reunited with his ilk in the LGBTQ community there. But following the recent homophobic attacks in the northern region of the country, especially in Kano (his place of refuge after fleeing Lagos), Adelaja Shamsidin returned to Lagos sometime June, 2024.
He had hoped that the years would dim the intensity of their search but fate had other plans. Alas, the security and locals attacked his resident with intention to “settle” his case once-and-for-all but he managed to escape by the whisker with his family. While the young bisexual narrowly escaped the cruel fate yet again, his home was razed down.
Recall that Nigerian authorities generally target the LGBT community wherever they are residents. The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) had, in 2014, enacted Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013 (SSMPA) prohibiting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender LGBT people and activities, making it illegal and punishable by 10-14 years imprisonment.
On this account, a good numbers of LGBT persons are not open about their sexual orientation, as violence against them is dire and prevalent. Hence, many are seeking refuge in such countries where it is practiced.
To give bite to her uncompromising stance, the FG recently took a leading newspaper outfit to the Nigerian Press Council over a media report claiming that the former signed an LGBTQ-themed Samoa Agreement which has a couple of clauses that compel both underdeveloped and developing nations to support the agitations by the LGBT community for recognition, as a pre-condition for benefiting from a $150bn funding package, among others.
I don’t know the problem of these Naija people, let anybody do what they like with their body, are you fit to fight for God. So far he doesn’t force anyone to it what is the problem.
What a barbaric country called the fuck Nigeria! There should be freedom for status preferences ,why suffocating the innocent LGBTQ people in African countries.the UN should take drastic actions against this hostile Comity of nation . Let the Rainbow live their lives.
What a barbaric country called the fuck Nigeria! There should be freedom for status preferences ,why suffocating the innocent LGBTQ people in African countries.the UN should take drastic actions against this hostile Comity of nation . Let the Rainbow live their lives
This is uncivilized injustices against the queer community especially the Bi community, phobic people attacking this guys are scum, they deserve life .
Happy for my Bi brother escape .mate stay safe we gat your back in LGBTQ community in diaspora.