Africa24 has learned with dismay that Alhaji Nonkoh Tunkara’s life has been under constant threat from people including his own family in Kono district, Koquima town, eastern Sierra Leone after suspecting him of being a gay.

Alhaji was born into devout Muslim family who are totally against the practice homosexuality which they consider being indecent and unholy.

When they discovered that he was engaged in such practice he was suspended from praying in Koquima town Mosque and his family also told him never to visit again.

Alhaji who had been in relationship with his fellow man was caught by one of his two female partners sometime in 2018 after monitoring his moments for a long time. Since that time he has been under frequent physical attack and molestation by the village people in Koquima town including religious leaders.

Sierra Leone like many other countries abhors the practice of homosexuality and anyone found wanting will be severely dealt with and they are sometimes they disowned by their own people.

Gay practice is considered in Sierra Leone as unhealthy, unholy and evil and widely condemned by authorities and religious communities.

Reports say even though Alhaji was in relationship with two women each having a child for him he was still having a secret affair with a gay partner.

His relationship with the first woman who has a 16 year old son Aruna for him broke up as a result of disagreement between them.

He was against the woman’s practice of female ‘Bondo’ secret society. As a senior member, she performs circumcision (Female Genital Mutilation on girls who are initiated into ‘Bondo’ secret society.

Africa24 has gathered that when the news of Ahaji’s secret affair as LGBTQ member was exposed in a dominated religious community in Koquima town it quickly spread far and wide and he soon became a target.

He was often harassed and by the community people in Koquima town, and strictly warned to stay away from their children not to involve them in his unholy and indecent practice.

People referred to him as a “threat” to both societal and religious morals. Sources have it that he was one day embarrassed by his peers in Koquima town at a football training where he was asked to leave the field telling him to go and find another team as they do not have a gay football.

This embarrassment and attacks continued on a daily basis with threat to even cut off his dick. When the situation became unbearable, Alhaji reportedly decided to report the matter to the police and was advised by the latter to relocate somewhere for his own safety.

According to report, he was at first reluctant to do so insisting that the house was his permanent home and has nowhere safe to go.

But when the attacks intensified, he finally left and stayed outside of Koquima town for almost three months. On January 8 2022, reports added, Alhaji decided to return to Koquima town as place he referred to as home, but even received harsher welcome by the people.

Like Alhaji, LGBTQ people have no justice in Africa especially in Sierra Leone and their cases are not treated with seriousness in police stations and courts. They have scores of undocumented, physical, emotional and psychological attacks.

In March 2022, Alhaji’s home was ransacked by gang of anti LGBTQ members. Even though he immediately reported the matter to police, no action was however taken.

And two day after that incident, he was again physical attacked around 5pm local time by a group of community members in Koquima town armed with dangerous weapons including sticks, iron, bars, stones and ropes. Our sources say he was stripped naked and thoroughly beaten until he became helpless and unconscious.

He was only saved by a ‘Good Samaritan’ who took him to hospital where he was until he recovered a bit from his wounds and internal pains.

After realizing he was no longer safe here in Sierra Leone, Alhaji reportedly escaped to an unknown destination for his safety.