Nigerian Trans TikTok Star, Abuja Area Mama, Found Dead

The battered body of Abuja Area Mama, a popular 33-year-old transgender TikTok influencer, was discovered along a highway in Abuja, Nigeria. Known for her candid posts about life as a transgender woman and sex worker in Nigeria, Mama was reportedly on her way to visit her boyfriend when she was murdered. Josephine Adeh, a police spokesperson, confirmed the discovery of Mama's body and stated that Abuja Chief of Police Benneth Igweh has ordered a "thorough and discreet" investigation. In her last TikTok post, Mama wrote, "Getting ready to go and see my boyfriend." It was just hours before her body was found. LGBTQ+ rights in Nigeria have been increasingly under attack, with many states adopting forms of Sharia Law that criminalize same-sex relations and gender expression that does not conform to traditional norms. These laws make same-sex relations punishable by death in some regions, while federal laws carry prison sentences of up to 14 years. Human Rights Watch has also documented the actions of vigilante groups, known as Hisbah, who enforce Sharia Law outside the legal system, often targeting the LGBTQ+ community with violence and abuse. #Trans Rights
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