Faruk Oluwatobi Shittu: Survivor of Brutal Mob Attack Speaks Out on Homophobic Violence in Nigeria

Faruk Oluwatobi Shittu, a young Nigerian man, is speaking out for the first time after surviving a brutal homophobic mob attack in January 2022 — a traumatic experience that nearly cost him his life.

Faruk says the assault happened after he was seen kissing another boy in a secluded corner of his community. A group of young men reportedly spotted them and raised an alarm, triggering a violent mob to gather.

“I was almost beaten to death,” he recounted in a trembling voice. “If not for God, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

Chased down the street by the enraged crowd, Faruk was eventually caught and beaten mercilessly. One of the attackers shattered a glass bottle against his body, causing deep lacerations and severe bleeding.

“I still have scars all over my body,” he said, lifting his shirt to reveal jagged wounds on his side and back. “Every time I see them, I remember that day. It’s like I’m reliving the trauma all over again.”

His mother found him hours later, bloodied and barely conscious. In shock and tears, she rushed him to a nearby pharmacy for emergency treatment.

“She collapsed when she saw me,” Faruk recalled. “There was so much blood — I could see the fear in her eyes.”

The attack shines a harsh light on the danger queer Nigerians face daily. In a country where same-sex relationships are not only socially stigmatized but also criminalized under the 2014 Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, LGBTQ+ people live under constant threat. The law carries penalties of up to 14 years in prison.

Human rights advocates have condemned the rising tide of violence targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

“This is a textbook case of homophobic mob violence,” said a spokesperson for a Lagos-based human rights group. “What happened to Faruk Oluwatobi Shittu is not isolated — it reflects a widespread culture of impunity and hate.”

Still deeply traumatized, Faruk now lives in hiding and says he rarely steps outside. He is currently seeking ways to flee the country.

“I just want to live somewhere I can be safe,” he said. “I want to be free to love without fear — without risking my life.”