Nigeria police is currently investigating circumstances surrounding the murder of a well-known transgender TikToker, popularly known as “Abuja Area Mama.
Area Mama’s lifeless body was found along a highway in the capital, Abuja, on Thursday. The 33-year-old, who had gained a loyal following on social media for her candid posts about her life as a transgender woman and sex worker, was found beaten and bruised, sparking concerns of a targeted attack.
“Abuja Area Mama,” who often referred to herself by the name Ifeanyi, was a controversial figure in Nigeria, a country with deeply conservative values where LGBTQ+ individuals face significant dangers.
Last year, the TikToker revealed she had been attacked and expressed fears for her life, highlighting the precarious position of LGBTQ+ people in Africa’s most populous nation. In Nigeria like many other African countries, same-sex relationships are criminalized, and many LGBTQ+ individuals live in fear of persecution and violence.
In her final Instagram post on Wednesday, “Abuja Area Mama” mentioned she was preparing to meet her boyfriend. Tragically, just hours later, her body was discovered along the Katampe-Mabushi expressway in the Banex, Wuse II area of Abuja. The police statement indicated that detectives arrived at the scene on Thursday morning and found the body of a man dressed in female clothing with no identification. Abuja police chief Benneth Igweh has since ordered a “thorough and discreet” investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
The death of “Abuja Area Mama” has triggered an outpouring of grief on social media, with many expressing sorrow and anger over the loss of a figure who, despite the dangers, sought to live openly and share her experiences. Despite constitutional protections against discrimination and guarantees of the right to private and family life in Nigeria, the LGBTQ+ community frequently faces mass arrests and detentions, particularly in the country’s northern states.
Ugandan LGBTQ rights activist Steven Kabuye who has also faced targeted attacks himself including a life-threatening knife attack in January said;
“In Africa, being queer is a death sentence. Visibility without protection is suicide. Area Mama was a victim of this reality, enduring countless death threats ignored for too long. Today, we mourn their loss to hate. @TruthLgbtq, our hearts break for Area Mama’s family and the Nigerian community. We demand a thorough investigation and justice.”
The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the hostility faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Nigeria, where societal norms and legal frameworks often leave them vulnerable to violence and discrimination.
