Bisi Alimi Calls For Arrest Of BBNaija Housemate Over Alleged ‘Kito’ Admission

LGBTQ+ activist Bisi Alimi has called for the arrest of a Big Brother Naija housemate, Yusuf, after a video from the reality show circulated online in which the housemate appeared to recount an alleged scheme targeting gay men.

According to Alimi, Yusuf openly admitted during a conversation with fellow housemates to targeting a gay man during the COVID-19 pandemic and subjecting him to what is commonly known within Nigeria’s LGBTQ+ community as “kito.”

In the clip circulating online, Yusuf is heard recounting what he said was information about using a gay dating application to lure gay men to hotel rooms, where they could then be robbed.

The account prompted Alimi to demand that law-enforcement authorities investigate the matter and, if the allegations are established, take appropriate action.

“Kito” is a term used in parts of Nigeria’s LGBTQ+ community to describe predatory attacks in which individuals allegedly pose as gay or use dating platforms to lure queer people into vulnerable situations. Victims may subsequently be subjected to robbery, extortion, humiliation or physical violence.

The practice has long been a source of fear within Nigeria’s LGBTQ+ community, particularly because victims may be reluctant to report attacks due to stigma, threats of outing and the broader risks associated with being openly identified as gay.

Alimi’s reaction has therefore shifted attention from the entertainment value of the reality show to the potential consequences of statements made by public figures on national television.

The activist has not claimed that Yusuf’s account, on its own, amounts to proof of a criminal offence. Rather, his call is for authorities to take the alleged admission seriously and investigate whether the housemate was describing personal involvement in such activities.

The controversy also raises questions about the responsibility of reality television platforms when conversations among contestants appear to touch on alleged criminal conduct.

For now, the circulating clip and Alimi’s reaction have generated significant discussion online. Whether the account represents a personal confession, a retelling of someone else’s experience, or a statement that requires further context remains a matter for proper investigation.

What is clear, however, is that the conversation has placed the dangers associated with “kito” attacks and the vulnerability of people targeted through dating platforms back in the public spotlight.