A Nigerian social media critic, known as VeryDarkMan, caused a stir recently when he threatened to crossdress if Bobrisky, a popular crossdresser, was not arrested within a week.
Previously, VeryDarkMan had called for Bobrisky’s arrest for cross-dressing, alleging that powerful politicians were protecting him because of their romantic relationships with him. Many have argued that these allegations are unsubstantiated and homophobic, while others have defended the right to freely express one’s identity.
According to ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Nigerian Police Force’s Public Relations Officer, the police are not able to arrest crossdressers since it is not illegal to cross-dress in Nigeria. He explained that there must be sufficient evidence of a person engaging in homosexual activity before they can be prosecuted, and that cross-dressing alone is not enough to prove this.
In response to ACP Adejobi’s statement, VeryDarkMan posted a video on his Instagram page in which he declared his intention to become a crossdresser and use female restrooms if the authorities continue to refuse to take action against people like Bobrisky.
He said, “When I came out of detention, I read somewhere that it was Tonto Dikeh who detained me. She can never detain me, I don’t care about her connection. The truth is that I was detained for the video I made calling for Bobrisky’s arrest and my claims that he was being protected by gay lawmakers. My detention is just a little sacrifice. They will still arrest me for my subsequent videos.
“Since the police say crossdressing is legal, I wll soon start crossdressing. I will give them one week after I drop my petition against Bobrisky. If Bobrisky is not arrested, I will become a crossdresser and use the female restroom.”
This ultimatum has sparked further debate on social media, with some expressing concern about the potential consequences of his actions, and others calling for a more open and accepting society.