By Aliu Adewale
In what can be described as a direct attack on his right by an alleged cult group at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Mr. Ibrahim Akanbi Lateef, who is an undergraduate of the institution, has registered his decision to flee the country due to constant threats to his life and need to safeguard his life.
He highlighted that he had for several years faced rejection, discrimination, and hostility from members of his family, his community, and fellow students because of his sexual orientation.
The undergraduate came from a background that was poor, coupled with the fact that the father had several wives and many children that he allegedly failed to cater for financially and otherwise. This left the bulk of the responsibilities to his mother to shoulder the burden of raising the children under difficult conditions. The student was also said to have suffered repeated physical abuse while living with one of his father’s wives before eventually leaving the residence.
However, the situation became more pronounced on the 10th of October, 2025, when he was kidnapped at Kwara State Polytechnic by fellow students believed to be members of a violent cult group known locally as the Black-Eye Cult. He noted that his abduction was due to his bisexual orientation and was physically assaulted, tortured, and subjected to repeated threats to his life.
The sudden attack saw him sustain injuries that left visible scars on different parts of his body. Not satisfied with their action, the cult group went ahead to coerce him into joining the group, a decision he declined, and was threatened that he would be killed if he informed the school authorities or security agencies about the incident.
Citing that the threats were genuine because of the cult group’s alleged reputation for violent activities within tertiary institutions and wide network capable of tracing individuals across different parts of Nigeria prompted him to keep mum.
In a bid to protect his life, he reportedly relocated from one state to another in an effort to escape those allegedly pursuing him. However, despite the repeated relocation, he was said to have remained traumatised and fearful, believing that his alleged attackers could still locate him
Besides, he was reluctant to seek protection from the authorities because he feared that disclosing his sexual orientation could expose him to additional discrimination, victimisation and possible persecution.
However, as a result of the combined effects of the alleged kidnapping, torture, death threats and hostility connected with his bisexual identity, left him living in constant fear and unable to continue his studies or lead a normal life in Nigeria.
Fearing for his safety, he eventually left Nigeria and travelled abroad, where he is currently seeking international protection. As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the management of Kwara State Polytechnic or relevant law enforcement authorities concerning the allegations.