A lady, Olasunkanmi Folashade Kemi, has cried out over alleged threat to her life following a negative family tradition/practices and her sexual orientation as a lesbian.
Kemi, who has been living in fear for past months, expressed concerns over late husband family tradition that wanted to jeopardise her future, describing it as dangerous.
When her husband died in October 2016, it was really an agonising phase for Kemi. She struggled through the sad phase but little did she know that her husband family would compound her sad situation with a family tradition which was unknown to her.
Narrating her ordeal, Kemi said: “My husband family asked me to marry my husband’s elder brother as part of their family tradition but I refuted, I said I can’t because I’m not in love with him and can’t marry someone I do not have feelings for.
“So, they started threatening me that they will take my son from me. I was intimidated into taking some sacrifices as a form of concoction so as to serve as a punishment for my refusal and they said i will not be allowed to go out again which will refrain me from freedom.”
Fortunately for helpless Kemi, she was able to manage to escape from where her movement was restricted out of the town to an outskirt where she met a lady who helped and accommodated her.
But little did Kemi know that she will be introduced to another world. A lady who saw her and listened to her ordeal in her past marriage, introduced her into lesbianism.
LGBT and other related practices are strictly prohibited by Nigerian laws. Blackmail, prejudice and persecution have forced members of the LGBT community to go underground, and even flee the country.
Same-sex law prohibition bill signed into law on January 7, 2014, by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan criminalises same sex marriage and public display of affection of the same sex.
Kemi was introduced in the world of lesbianism by the lady who helped and she served as her boss. But Kemi’s boss was not pleased with her because she (Kemi) has recruited some of the boss girls in to lesbianism. Kemi’s boss went ahead to report to police, and they declared Kemi wanted.
In February when Kemi was declared wanted. She had to look after her safety. She had several other cases. The police authority also declared Kemi wanted for having sex with a young lady and the mother of the young lady was furious.
All of these, and more are the ordeals Kemi went through, and since then, she has been fighting for her safety and freedom.