In a harrowing account of societal rejection and physical danger, Ibrahim Rashidat Olufunke, a Nigerian national, has fled her home country to seek protection in Canada.
Rashidat, a wife and mother of two, was forced to escape after her sexual orientation as a bisexual woman exposed her to severe persecution, mob violence, and police harassment in Lagos.
Born on June 28, 1977, into the family of the late Alhaji Opara Olatunji and Mrs. Olajumoke Kofoworola Jiboyewa, Rashidat was raised in a conservative Islamic household in Lagos. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of Lagos (2008). She is married to Ibrahim Rasheed Temitope, a lawyer, with whom she shares two children, AbdulWaheed Ayinde Rahmat (13) and Mustaqimat Akanke (11).
For decades, Rashidat grappled privately with her identity. “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.”
However, her life took a dramatic and dangerous turn in 2024 when her secret became public. The persecution began on August 24, 2024, during an outing with a longtime friend, Yemisi Onikoyi. The two visited a bar on Lagos Island, a venue they believed to be safe. The evening turned violent when they were ambushed by unknown individuals, reportedly summoned by community elders who disapproved of their perceived lifestyle.
“They beat us mercilessly,” Rashidat recalled. “My friend Yemisi managed to escape, but I was seized and taken to the nearby police station at the Lion Building, Lagos Island.”
Detained and interrogated regarding the attack, Rashidat’s situation worsened. Although her husband’s intervention eventually secured her release, the incident exposed her to intense public scrutiny. Weeks later, the violence followed her to the streets. While walking through a busy area, 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 on Freeman Street, Lagos Island, for treatment.”
Despite the revelation of her sexuality, Rashidat’s husband chose to stand by her. “He forgave me and chose to protect me despite the risks,” she said. However, his support could not shield the family from the escalating threats.
Following persistent calls from the police and surveillance by unknown individuals, the family was forced into hiding.
“My children and I moved from one state to another,” she recounted. “I destroyed my SIM card to prevent the police from tracking me. It was a nightmare.”
With no safe haven remaining in Nigeria, Rashidat’s husband arranged for her and the children to flee the country. Now in Canada, Rashidat is seeking asylum, though the psychological scars remain.
“My life and my children’s lives were at constant risk,” she stated. “Since arriving in Canada, I have felt a sense of safety and relief, but the trauma of what I endured remains with me.”
