A Life of Resilience: Kelvin Aluge’s Story of Persecution and Survival

A Life of Resilience: Kelvin Aluge’s Story of Persecution and Survival

Kelvin Chibuzor Aluge, a 33-year-old Nigerian, shares his heart-wrenching story of persecution and resilience in the face of relentless threats and violence due to his sexual orientation.

In 2017, Kelvin's hometown community in Mbiri, Delta State, accused him of his sexual orientation. The situation intensified after his uncle's wife discovered him with his partner, Abayomi Enitan.

The Aluge family considers Kelvin's actions an abomination and demanded he undergo a spiritual cleansing ritual, which he believes is a harmful and deceitful practice.

Kelvin narrated how he narrowly escaped from Mbiri, facing severe attacks from angry youths, and losing his father in the process. His wife, Doris Eseosa Aluge, whom he married in 2018, publicly disowned him due to community pressure.

Kelvin shared that he was introduced to same-sex relationships in junior secondary school and has been living in fear of persecution since. In 2009, he suffered physical assault from OPC group, losing teeth, after being accused by his friend's mother.

Kelvin also narrated how he was nearly killed by the angry Vigilante youths of Mbiri after his father’s burial.

“I was brutally beaten with iron rod, inflicting serious injury on my leg and arm by angry Vigilante youths who thought my refusal to perform spiritual cleansing due to my sexual act led to my father’s death and they believed I must be punished for it”.

“I returned to Ota out of fear and got myself treated at Ota State Hospital. I left the hospital and to my surprise my uncle hinted me that the Mbiri youths in Lagos are planning another attack and he helped me to escape to Ibadan to start all over”.

Kelvin ordeal worsen after his wife left him in October 2019 without any notice of where he could find her due to the pressure and humiliation from the community. He could not concentrate on his job at Aluge water works after facing public disgrace by his uncle’s wife and some staff of Aluge water works.

“My uncle’s wife asked the Aluge water works workers to stay away from me, experiencing repeated instances of workers harassment based on my sexual orientation and especially when I went out for marketing within and outside Ibadan, it was always a battle while in most times I leave my team of workers on the field for safety due to this constant occurrences”.

“My uncle advised me to relocate to Lagos to hide for sometime and luckily I met Mary Ogechi who helped and shelter me in Badagry”.

“I later married Mary Ogechi traditionally on December 10, 2021 and blessed with two children, Hudson Chukwudi Aluge born on January 24, 2022 in Badagry and another boy in April 2023, Wilson Kosiaochukwu Aluge after I have explained my past predicaments to her”.

Kelvin Aluge sexual habit based on his orientation persisted as he still hang out with Abayomi Enitan which led to his relocation to Ibadan with his family after his wife reported him to his uncle.

“My wife went back to Badagry with my children and I was hiding in my uncle’s friend house for safety since my uncle’s wife was still angry with me and she doesn’t want me near her house nor at the company and she also threatened to get OPC boys to deal with me and hand me over to authority”.

Despite finding love and starting anew, Kelvin’s past persists. He faces threats from Angry Vigilante youths and OPC couple with the Fear of imprisonment under Nigeria’s 2014 Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act

Kelvin remains hidden from his family and perpetrators, seeking safety and understanding.