Survivor Samsondeen Goloba Shares Heart-Wrenching Tale of Discrimination and Tragedy in Nigeria: Seeking Justice for a Friend

In a harrowing account of adversity and discrimination, Samsondeen Goloba, a survivor and member of the LGBTQ+ community, has shed light on the challenges faced by individuals in Nigeria who identify as LGBTQ+.

This extraordinary story traverses decades and continents, revealing the immense challenges faced by an individual due to their sexual orientation in a society deeply entrenched in religion, tradition and prejudice. His story highlights the urgent need for justice and protection of LGBTQ+ rights in the country.

A Family in Turmoi:
The narrative commences in the aftermath of Samsondeen’s father His Royal Majesty King Rafiu Goloba (Osolo of Isolo ||) demise in May 2003. The passing of his patriarch marked a profound shift within the family dynamic, exposing a dark underbelly of animosity that descended upon Samsondeen’s mother and her children.

Despite this turbulence, his mother stood resolute in her commitment to her religion and her children’s education. In a poignant interview, Samsondeen reflected on those challenging times, saying, “The situation began to shift after my father’s passing in May 2003, and things escalated quickly as tensions grew within the family, with a particular focus on my mother and us kids.

Since she was my father’s favorite, this animosity became apparent quite swiftly. Prior to my father’s death, there had been attempts within our family to force the Muslim religion on my mom, which she strongly resisted. There were many heated exchanges and actions during this period, but my mother remained unwavering in her commitment to both her Christianity faith and ensuring her children received a good education.” Through it all, Samsondeen’s mother remained a beacon of strength and hope for her family

The Influence of a Manipulative Pastor Tony Ikechukwu:

Fast forward to the year 2005, in the bustling town of Ilasa, located in Lagos, Nigeria, Samsondeen’s mother, a fervent Christian, sought spiritual refuge for her family, faithfully attending Apostolic Church of God, a local church in the area lead by Pastor Tony Ikechukwu at the time.

It was here that the sinister manipulation began. The pastor, exploiting Samsondeen’s vulnerability, manipulated him into a series of unconscionable acts under the guise of spiritual guidance. Samsondeen stated in his interview “Pastor Tony would initially request that I purchase candles and oil for prayer purposes, but subsequently engage in unwarranted sexual activities, including oral intercourse and non-consensual penetration with the candle, ultimately progressing to sexual intercourse”. It was a time of profound darkness, a stark contrast to the faith and hope that had once illuminated their lives.

A Secret Suffering in Silence:

Samsondeen grew up in a community deeply rooted in tradition and religion, where homosexuality was considered taboo and punishable by death. Fearing for his life, he remained silent about his ordeal, even to his family. Samsondeen stated that pastor Tony “emphasized the need for utmost discretion, urging me not to share this situation with anyone, including my family or close friends. I gave my word that I wouldn’t.”

Samsondeen went further to state that “Isolo was deeply rooted in tradition, with a predominantly Muslim population, and it was a community that had no tolerance for homosexuality. Being a prince further complicated matters, making it incredibly difficult for me to confide in anyone about my situation, as I feared the potential consequences, including the loss of my life.” Samsondeen endured unimaginable suffering in silence. His silence was perpetuated by the fear of reprisal in a society where homosexuality is considered a grave offense .

The Cry for Justice:

It wasn’t until 2006 that he mustered the courage to confide in his mother. Her immediate concern for his life and safety prompted her to confided in one of Samsondeen’s uncle, namely Afeez Goloba, who reported the heinous acts to the authorities. Samsondeen stated that ” Uncle Afeez reported the incident to the police, and the Bale of Ilasa, a chieftaincy title representing the head of the community in Ilasa town. The Bale summoned the pastor to his house.

However, the pastor never appeared, leading to speculation that he may have fled the church or been transferred to another location, as he had sometimes mentioned to me that he could be moved around for the Lord’s work.” However, justice remained elusive as pastor Tony Ikechukwu managed to evade the consequences of his actions, leaving Samsondeen in the shadows.

Relentless Persecution and Isolation:

Pastor Tony’s incident marked the beginning of Samsondeen’s torment. He was ostracized by his community, branded as an “ADODI” which means (gay), and subjected to physical violence from family members, strangers, and even his own half-siblings. Samsondeen became a pariah within his own community.

“Following the exile of the pastor, the name “Pastor Tony” swiftly became a topic of conversation among everyone, marking the beginning of a hell in my life. It was a time of torment, hatred, rejection, and discrimination. My father’s other wives instructed their children to avoid any association with me, which meant I had no meaningful relationship with any of my nine half-siblings.

At this point, I was called an “ADODI,” the term for gays in our community, and rejection was the least of the hardships I faced,” Samsondeen endured physical abuse, public humiliation, and relentless rejection, he continued “Whenever my uncles became intoxicated or under the influence, I became a target for senseless beatings, sometimes resulting in severe injuries, including bleeding to unconsciousness.

These acts of violence weren’t limited to family members; they also occurred at the hands of strangers and even my own half-brothers. I vividly recall an incident in 2007 where I was brutally beaten with a large stick, equivalent to a 4×4, resulting in the loss of my two front teeth due to an attack by a mob of strangers.” No one would have thought a 15 years old boy at the time could be going through this much.

Struggles in Education:

Despite these challenges, Goloba persevered and eventually gained admission to Lagos State University (LASU) in 2009. “In 2009, I secured admission to LASU (Lagos State University) to pursue a degree in business administration. I had to return to Lagos. My hostel was in a town called Igando, located about a 15-minute drive away from LASU’s campus.

At first, I contemplated settling there without realizing that my story had already circulated throughout various communities and regions of Lagos State. My time at LASU proved to be a hell experience, as my sexuality had become widely known, making it nearly impossible for me to focus on my studies.

I endured constant taunting, robberies, physical assaults, bullying, and even incidents where I was forcibly stripped naked.” Samsondeen’s sexuality made him a perpetual target for abuse and discrimination, which affected him mentally and subsequently resulting in a drastic drop in his GPA. “On so many occasion Kola and I found ourselves cornered by campus gangs and cult members in LASU. They would subject us to mockery and harassment in broad daylight, while the school marshal did nothing.

This continued for an extended period, causing me to feel increasingly unsafe when attending classes. To prioritize our safety, I began to miss classes, resulting in a significant drop in my GPA.”

A Desperate Attempt for Acceptance:

In 2012, Goloba, under immense pressure and a desire for acceptance he tried to date a female, However, The rumors of his sexuality also complicated his attempts to form romantic relationships. “In 2012, under the weight of pressure, rejection, discrimination, abuse, torture, and constant humiliation from both family and society, I contemplated pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman.

However, none of the women I approached would date me, mostly because they were aware of my story.” He eventually met and entered a relationship with Atinuke the mother of his son “I met Atinuke at a night club…People began to notice us together and attempted to break us apart, but she remained by my side.

In December 2013, we had a son, even though I was just 21 at the time. I thought that having a child would demonstrate to my family and community that I had changed my sexuality, but that didn’t turn out to be the case.” This relationship, which eventually led to the birth of their son, was an attempt to prove to his family and community that he had changed his sexuality. However, it ended in disappointment and financial struggles.

A Glimmer of Hope in the USA:

In 2015, Samsondeen embarked on a journey to the United States, where he encountered Jasmine, the love of his life. Their union marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, one filled with love and acceptance. “After a lot of attempts, in 2015, I finally obtained my student visa and arrived in America, where I pursued my studies and eventually met Jasmine. We fell in love and got married, and everything seemed to be going well.

I received my green card in 2016, and my initial thought was to bring Jasmine to Nigeria and demonstrate to my family and community that I was now married.” He further stated “However, we decided that Jasmine would join me on my second trip to Nigeria. This was because I needed to address some matters before her arrival. I wanted to test the waters, to see if I would be received and welcomed, as I was deeply concerned about the potential for hatred, brutality, prejudice, and discrimination that I had previously experienced from my own family and community.”

Violence and Persecution:

Upon returning to Nigeria in 2017, Samsondeen was met with increasing hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community. “Upon my return to Nigeria in December 2016, I discovered that the hatred towards the gay community had intensified, as the LGBTQ+ movement had been gaining momentum.”

A birthday party for a friend turned into a horrifying ordeal when the OPC (ODUDUWA PEOPLES CONGRESS) attacked, resulting in fatalities. “On January 10th, 2017, I attended my friend Kola’s birthday celebration.

The party was filled with Kola’s male and female friends, and everyone was enjoying themselves. Suddenly, the atmosphere changed as we heard gunshots. The music stoped, everyone started running and hiding. we were surrounded by weapons like guns, machetes, and cutlasses; it resembled a war zone.

It was the OPC, claiming they had received intelligence that it was a gay party, and they viciously attacked. Tragically, three people lost their lives during the attack, and many others sustained injuries. I managed to escape, but Kola was one of the three individuals who tragically lost their lives to the OPC’s violence, i was terrified, shocked and in complete disbelief.”

Tragically, a dear friend, Kola Adeyemi Buta, met a violent and untimely death in the most horrific manner possible, solely due to his sexual orientation. Kola’s gruesome death served as a stark reminder of the urgent need for justice and change in a society where hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community persist. In accordance with information obtained from reliable sources, it has been verified that the two other individuals that regrettably lost their lives in the course of the recent violent raid have been identified as Akeem Ajayi and David Akinola.

Following this violence, Samsondeen Goloba’s photograph was circulated by the OPC, placing him on a watchlist for homosexuality and alleged crimes against the organization. “While still mourning my friend Kola’s tragic death, on January 12th, 2017, another group of local gang members, known as area boys, attacked the OPC. The OPC claimed that I had orchestrated this attack by hiring the area boys” he went further “My picture was distributed to every OPC zone across Lagos, accusing me of homosexuality and war against the OPC. I found myself on the OPC watch list.”

Fleeing for Safety:

Fearing for his life and safety, Goloba spent a night in a hotel and reached out to friends for assistance In a desperate bid for survival, ” Thank God I listened to my instincts yesterday January 12th, 2017, I decided not to stay at my mother’s house. Instead, I opted to move into a hotel because I felt that nowhere was safe.

Last night, my mother’s house was targeted by OPC members who were searching for me. They scattered the premises, desperately seeking my whereabouts.

Fortunately, I wasn’t there, and they didn’t find me. However, they left hash threats with my mother, vowing to kill me and burn my body once they located me. Thankfully, my mother and my son were unharmed during this frightening incident.”

Samsondeen began to seek ways to document his story, knowing that his life was in imminent danger he turned to his friend Sule Ogudu who is into social media influencing for help.

“At this point, I believe it is only a matter of time before the OPC would locate me. Which is why I reached out to my friend Sule Ogudu, who had expertise in social media technology, to assist me in arranging contact with news reporters, so that I can share my story before any harm befell me.

The purpose of this interview is to give account of my story with the hope that, Sule together with you guys (news reporter) can help me publish it in case I do not make it out of this country alive. Even if I do make it out alive I still want this story published.”

Samsondeen’s harrowing account serves as a powerful testament to the indomitable spirit of the human soul. He resolutely calls upon the Nigerian government and law enforcement agencies to seek justice for Kola’s death “No one should die the way kola died. nobody should face death due to their sexual orientation.

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No government or local agency should possess the authority to unjustly take the life of a law-abiding citizen. I take this moment to implore the Nigerian federal government and the Nigeria Police Force to seek justice for Kola’s death and his two other friends. Kola’s death was an act of pure murder, and those responsible should be brought to justice.”

Samsondeen’s story stands as an exemplar of unwavering resilience, unparalleled determination, and a poignant plea for a more compassionate and accepting society. Samsondeen Goloba’s poignant account unveils the ongoing persecution and violence faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Nigeria.

It serves as a plea for justice and a call to action to address the systematic discrimination and brutality that persist in the country. Samsondeen Goloba’s story highlights the urgent need for international attention and support to protect the rights and lives of LGBTQ+ individuals in Nigeria. May his call for justice reverberate across borders, and may Kola’s tragic death become the catalyst for the long-overdue change that the world needs.

According to our reliable source Samsondeen Goloba traveled back to USA on the 14th of Jan 2017, and will continue to seek justice for the death of his friend.