An alleged gay Mr Francis Kokofe has disppaeared from his community after his true sexuality was uncovered by his family.
The incident has ignited outrage in his family and community, placing his life in grave danger.
For many years, Mr Francis Kokofe carefully concealed his true identity, sharing this secret only with his wife, who, like him, belongs to the LGBT community.Â
Their marriage was not built on love but rather a mutual agreement to shield each other from the scrutiny of family members and society at large.
However, the facade crumbled when his family uncovered the truth, responding with threats of disownment and vowing to deal with him in ways he never imagined if he did not wholy desist from such an act.
Faced with Nigeria’s strict laws against same-sex relationships and the deeply entrenched cultural and religious beliefs that view homosexuality as a taboo, Kokofe had chosen to live a private life, hiding his true self behind closed doors.
But the walls of secrecy came crashing down on August 27, 2023, when he was arrested alongside others at a same-sex wedding in Warri, the oil-rich city in the Niger Delta.
The incident sent shockwaves through his family and community, fueling their rage.
Kokofe’s family member who pleaded anonymity said, “This shame must stop. He has dragged our name through the mud for the last time”.
His predicament is similar to a previous incident in February 2016 when he attended a gay wedding in Jiwa, an Abuja suburb.Â
Back then, he claimed he had been invited as the Master of Ceremony, but the event was disrupted by law enforcement officers acting on a tip-off from concerned locals.
His latest outing in Warri proved to be the breaking point for his family. Shortly after returning from the 2024 Christmas holidays, he vanished without a trace.Â
Reports suggest he had to flee for his life after a cousin tipped him off that youths and elders in the community had planned to abduct and punish him.Since then, his whereabouts have remained unknown.
“We pray he is alive,” saida concerned family member, Mr. Kenneth Ekweson.
Nigeria remains one of the most hostile countries for LGBT individuals.
The 2014 Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan, criminalizes same-sex relationships, carrying a penalty of up to 14 years in prison.
The legislation, widely supported by conservative and religious groups, has emboldened communities to take matters into their own hands, leading to increased cases of social ostracization, violence, and even death threats.
As the battle over LGBT rights and acceptance continues, stories like Francis’s serve as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by those who defy societal norms.
While activists push for change and inclusivity, many others remain resolute in upholding traditional and religious beliefs, leaving individuals like Kokofe trapped in a perilous struggle between identity and survival.
With his life hanging in the balance, what lies ahead for Kokofe and his family remains shrouded in uncertainty.