
Nigerian woman flees persecution, seeks protection in Canada
In a world where personal identity continues to spark controversy, Ibrahim Rashidat Olufunke, a Nigerian citizen, has found herself on the run not from crime, but from societal rejection and physical danger. Born on June 28 1977, she was born into the family of the late Alhaji Opara Olatunji and Mrs. Olajumoke Kofoworola Jiboyewa, in Lagos, Rashidat grew up in a Islamic family. She is married to Ibrahim Rasheed Temitope, a lawyer, and together they have two children, AbdulWaheed Ayinde Rahmat (13) and Mustaqimat Akanke (11).
Ibrahim Rashidat Olufunke graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of Lagos in 2008. However, her life took a harrowing turn due to her identity as a bisexual woman a truth she has grappled with since she was 18. This reality has subjected her to unimaginable threats, harassment, and persecution in her homeland.
Rashidat’s life took a dramatic turn in 2024 when her bisexual identity became a subject of scrutiny and hostility. The journey to her current refuge in Canada is a testament to her resilience, but it also sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals living in conservative and often hostile societies.
Her troubles began on August 24, 2024, during an evening outing with her longtime friend, Yemisi Onikoyi. The two visited a bar in Lagos Island known for its diverse patrons, a space they thought was safe. However, the outing turned violent when the duo was ambushed by unknown individuals, reportedly summoned by community elders disapproving of their perceived lifestyle.
“They beat us mercilessly,” Rashidat recalls. “My friend Yemisi managed to escape, but I was taken to a nearby police station at the Lion Building, Lagos Island.”
Detained and forced to explain the attack, Rashidat’s plight worsened. Despite her husband’s intervention and eventual release from detention, the incident exposed her to public scrutiny and further endangerment. Weeks later, while walking on a busy street, Rashidat was attacked again by unknown assailants.
“They told me I couldn’t escape,” she said. “They beat and harassed me, vowing to harm me permanently if I didn’t leave. My husband had to rush me to Unique Trust Health Hospital for treatment.”
Rashidat’s identity as a bisexual woman had always been a closely guarded secret. “I first realized my attraction to both sexes when I was 18,” she explained. “But growing up in a Muslim family in Nigeria, I knew this was something I could never openly express. Even after marriage, I kept it from my husband because I feared losing him and our family.”
Her husband’s reaction, however, was unexpectedly supportive. “He forgave me and chose to protect me despite the risks,” Rashidat said. But the threats didn’t stop. Calls from the police and continued surveillance by unknown individuals forced Rashidat and her family to go into hiding.
“My children and I moved from one state to another,” she said. “I destroyed my SIM card to prevent the police from tracking me. It was a nightmare.”
With no safe haven in Nigeria, Rashidat’s husband arranged for her and their children to leave the country. They arrived in Canada, where Rashidat now seeks protection.
“My life and my children’s lives were at constant risk,” she said. “Since arriving in Canada, I have felt a sense of safety and relieve but the trauma of what I endured remains with me.”