Police in Abuja, Nigeria, are investigating the death of a trans TikToker known as Abuja Area Mama, whose body was found beside a highway last week, CNN reports.
Abuja Area Mama, who identified as female on TikTok and openly described herself as a sex worker, styled herself as a “cross-dresser and queen of the street.”
Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh confirmed in a statement that an unidentified individual, later determined to be a man dressed in female clothing, was found unresponsive along the Katampe-Mabushi expressway. Adeh stated that the case is being investigated as culpable homicide. CNN has reached out to the police for further details.
Same-sex relationships are illegal in Nigeria, and LGBTQ+ individuals often face harassment and discrimination. Abuja Area Mama had previously reported facing attacks and harassment, including a stabbing incident described in a recent social media video.
Just a day before her body was discovered, she posted on Instagram that she was “getting ready to go and see my boyfriend.”
Abuja Area Mama was candid about the risks associated with her work as a sex worker. In a YouTube podcast appearance four months ago, she acknowledged the potential danger, stating, “You could leave home at night to hustle and not return the next morning.”
