Queer, Imprisoned, Unbroken: Stories of Resistance from Nigeria’s Justice System

In a country where LGBTQ+ identity is criminalized, LBQ+ Nigerian Women Navigating the Justice System by Obinna Tony-Francis Ochem brings us face-to-face with the brutal realities endured by Aluka Obioma Joan and Maryam Yau. Joan, a trans woman, was imprisoned and denied vital hormone therapy, subjected to sexual exploitation by prison officers. Maryam, a lesbian…

6 November 20250Comments

ByThe View Magazine

In a country where LGBTQ+ identity is criminalized, LBQ+ Nigerian Women Navigating the Justice System by Obinna Tony-Francis Ochem brings us face-to-face with the brutal realities endured by Aluka Obioma Joan and Maryam Yau. Joan, a trans woman, was imprisoned and denied vital hormone therapy, subjected to sexual exploitation by prison officers. Maryam, a lesbian from Northern Nigeria, was arrested for posting about her partner on TikTok, then violently abused by fellow inmates and denied basic hygiene.

Yet amid the trauma, both women found resilience. Joan rebuilt her life post-release, while Maryam discovered solidarity through an LGBTQ+ organization. Their stories are a testament to courage, survival, and the urgent need for justice reform.

This is not just a report, it’s a call to action.