A Nigerian man has appealed for assistance after alleging that he and his partner no longer feel safe in Nigeria because of their sexuality.
In a video shared online, the man said the couple had become increasingly afraid for their safety and had stopped going out because of what they feared could happen to them.
He also said he had stopped going to work as a result of the security concerns, adding that their situation had left them largely isolated.
The man alleged that his family abandoned him when he was 13 years old after discovering his sexuality. According to him, some of his siblings subsequently threatened to kill him if they ever found him.
He further claimed that his partner had experienced a similar situation, saying his partner’s family had also abandoned him.
The couple, he said, currently have no family members or other support networks they can rely on for protection.
“We are no longer safe here,” the man said in the video, appealing to people who may be able to assist them.
He appealed to individuals and organisations that could help them relocate outside Nigeria, saying they would be willing to move to a neighbouring country where they believe they could live without fear for their safety.
The claims made in the video could not be independently verified, and the identities and specific circumstances of the couple were not disclosed in the material provided.
Their appeal comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, which prohibits same-sex marriage and contains provisions relating to same-sex relationships and public displays of same-sex affection. Claims of threats or violence, however, would need to be assessed separately based on the specific circumstances and available evidence.
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