In a renewed crackdown on individuals perceived to be members the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) community, the Nigerian Police have declared Oluwaseyi Ajibade, a 41-year-old man and father of one, wanted. Ajibade, a bisexual, has reportedly evaded multiple arrests and clamp down led by both official security agencies and local vigilante groups.
During one of the recent operations, several individuals were arrested, and others reportedly killed, although Ajibade managed to escape. Authorities have already declared him wanted having evaded arrest on multiple occasions in various states including Oyo, Kano, and even outside the country in Ghana.
In Kano State, the Hisbah, a local Islamic vigilante group, once issued a fatwa (a religious decree pronouncing death sentence) against him. Similarly, the Ooduwa People’s Congress (OPC), a Yoruba cultural group that often acts as a local enforcement body, has been reportedly pursuing Ajibade in Oyo State. During one of their confrontations, he lost his bisexual partner.
Ajibade has been accused of violating both Nigeria’s federal laws and traditional edicts that prohibit same-sex relationships. His family—wife Kofoworola and daughter Olaitan—have since gone into hiding. Their current whereabouts and well-being are unknown.
The most recent incident occurred on June 14, 2023, when Ajibade’s alleged hideout was attacked by members of the OPC. Although he escaped, he remains a fugitive. He is now ostracized from his community and wanted by both national and local security forces.
Under Nigerian law, same-sex relationships are criminalized. The Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, signed into law on January 7, 2014, by former President Goodluck Jonathan, imposes up to 14 years in prison for individuals involved in same-sex marriages or relationships. The law also mandates up to 10 years imprisonment for individuals or groups who support, organize, or participate in LGBTQ+ activities, including those who promote or witness same-sex unions.
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