May They Rest In Peace
I’d just come back from a hectic day at work on Monday, had my bath and was trying to recover from the bitch of a day I’d had – when my roommate walked in, exclaiming as he handed me his phone.
“See this guy wey dey call himself Utali… He don kill one TB guy!”
And just like that, I was introduced to the viral video of two guys who’d been caught trying to bury a gay guy they’d intended to kito, but ended up murdering.
Over twenty thousand naira!
As I watched this video with swelling depression and rage, I remember seeing this Utali guy’s picture being exposed as someone dangerous to our community on Facebook. And I wondered if the guy he killed even knew he’d been exposed as kito on social media before setting off to go see him. Or if he knew but threw caution to the wind, because he had to get some.
Because I could relate to that. I could remember the time last year, when I almost died from a kito experience in Iyana Iba. Pink Panther had been shouting it from the all the social media pages of Kito Diaries: that nothing good comes out of Iyana Iba.
And yet, I set out on a hookup that almost left me lifeless and in the hospital for two weeks with a police case on my head.
Sometimes, we are so consumed with our desires, we imagine that our case would be different in those situations that have been exposed as dangerous.
And now, seeing that yet another young man in our community had lost his life, knowing what kind of pain his loved ones would undoubtedly be going through, the added shame they’d be living under from the publicity of their son’s sexuality – this caused a great sadness to well up inside me.
And so, tonight, I light candles in my mind for this departed soul. I light candles for my deceased friends, Kosisochukwu and Tayo and all other beautiful souls who lost their lives due to the hate and homophobia in Nigeria.
Even thought their deaths were violent, may their souls rest in peace.
Written by Marc Gerrard
FINAL WORD: I want to use this medium to bring to our attention the petition that a KDian opened to impress on the Nigerian Police the need to pursue the case of this Utali and his friend murdering a fellow Nigerian, whose only crime was to be gay.
You can sign the petition HERE, and we can continue to hope and pray and fight for our rights to exist equally and without prejudice in the country we call home.
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5 Comments
Black Dynasty
March 11, 09:15This really pissed me off yesterday, reignited an anger and hatred for homophobes that makes me want to do unspeakable things.
What can we do to handle animals like these? We can’t remain prey constantly trying our best to avoid hopeless bastards? Apparently one of the killers is even gay and they were a gang who specialised in kito activities.
Black
March 11, 09:32I vividly remember chatting with this Utali guy on Grindr,I thank God for my life,and I feel very sorry for Kosisochukw,my condolences goes to his families, please let’s not allow our desires get the best out of us that results in grave consequences. God save us all ?
Higwe
March 11, 14:44At least his death was not in vain.
End homophobia in Nigeria has been trending on Twitter since last night.
It’s amazing seeing so many people bravely sharing their experiences + the brobdingnagian support from heterosexual men and women….truly heart warming .
Too bad something like this had to happen before people knew they should take a stand.
May his soul rest in peace .
Judas
March 11, 16:59The most pathetic part of it can be seen with the way some Nigerians are praising them for “cleansing” the land. How more awful can we be as a people
ChubbyLover
March 11, 18:26But seriously what’s the attraction to these scum? Looking so scruffy and hungry.
RIP brother.