A young man believed to be in his thirties, identified as Hakeem Adio, is currently in hiding and living in fear for his life. His ordeal began following a violent incident in May 2021, after which members of his community have continued to threaten and search for him.
On May 1, 2021, a group of local residents reportedly attacked Hakeem after discovering him in a private setting with his male partner. The situation quickly escalated into a violent mob scene, as more people gathered, accusing and physically assaulting him. Amid the chaos, he managed to escape to an undisclosed location in search of safety.
However, his escape did not bring lasting security.
In the weeks that followed, aggrieved members of the community allegedly began targeting him through numerous phone calls and text messages from different sources. These messages contained explicit threats, including warnings that he would be killed or beaten to death. Some messages reportedly stated that he “cannot hide forever” and that they would find him wherever he went.
Sources indicate that individuals from his former community have continued efforts to track his whereabouts, creating an ongoing climate of fear. The threats convey a chilling ultimatum: that he will either be killed or subjected to severe harm intended to permanently stop him from continuing his way of life.
The situation further intensified around June 2022, reaching a point where Hakeem’s safety could no longer be guaranteed. As a result, he was forced to seek means of escape to preserve his life.
The community in question is predominantly Islamic, where individuals accused of engaging in same-sex relationships are often subjected to severe punishment, and in some cases, mob violence. Hakeem’s case appears to follow this pattern, with some members of the community reportedly determined to apprehend him by any means possible.
Legal observers note that the persistence, severity, and organized nature of these threats, combined with the apparent inability of local systems to provide adequate protection, underscore a credible fear of persecution and potentially fatal harm.
As of the time of publication, sources report that members of the community remain actively searching for him.
