Introduction

“There are gangs who’ve realised that gay people cannot go to the police so that makes them ‘good victims’ for blackmail... Everybody you speak to has been kitoed or knows someone has been kitoed. And that’s just how rampant it is.”

Do you know what the word Kito means? Or Kitorist? Or Kitoed?

In Nigeria it’s come to mean when people, usually gangs, use online dating apps to entrap gay people - and then blackmail them. It often involves the victim being attacked and humiliated on film – with the footage then shared on social media.

But queer activists are attempting to fight back.

For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Ian Wafula, the reporter on a BBC Africa Eye documentary on the subject, as well as to Nigerian Queer Activist, Walter.

To watch the full documentary search for Kito: Blackmailing LGBT Nigeria on the BBC News Africa YouTube page.