Readers’ donations freed him from Nigeria prison; now Chidi rebuilds his life

Mike Daemon is the pseudonym of the founder and presenter…

After prison, Chidi realizes ‘I am not alone’; his goal is to help other LGBTQ Nigerians

After Chidi refused to pay a blackmailer last year, police arrested him on homosexuality charges, Chidi spent months awaiting trial at Port Harcourt Maximum Security Prison in southeastern Nigeria. Through the efforts of this site’s Project Not Alone, funded by readers’ donations, he was released and now is receiving psychosocial support as he considers returning to school or starting a business.

Donations are still needed for Project Not Alone, which this year is setting free eight imprisoned victims of African homophobia.

This illustration of Chidi was created by the AI program ChatGPT, based on a description of him provided by reporter Mike Daemon. — **This illustration of Chidi while he was in prison in Nigeria was created by the AI program ChatGPT, based on a description of him provided by reporter Mike Daemon**

For months, Chidi, a 26-year-old gay man, was held at the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre, awaiting trial on a charge of an “unnatural offence.” He was released in late July after receiving legal support and paying a fine. He now lives temporarily in a safe house while receiving psychosocial support.

Before his arrest, Chidi was an apprentice spray painter at an automobile repair workshop. He says his troubles began after he became involved with Amadi, a man who was a member of a local gang. Chidi had recently bought a new phone, which Amadi wanted. When Chidi refused to hand it over, he says, Amadi threatened to expose him.

One morning, as Chidi was on his way to work, Amadi and other gang members allegedly ambushed him and tried to take his phone. A local vigilante group intervened. Amadi told them that Chidi was gay and accused him of trying to proposition him. The vigilantes took Chidi’s phone, forced him to unlock it and found private conversations and videos. They then handed him and the phone to the police.

Chidi was held in police custody for two days before being charged in late November 2025 under Section 214 of Nigeria’s Criminal Code. Conviction on a charge of committing an “unnatural offence” carries a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.

An orphan with no immediate family to support him, Chidi struggled to secure legal assistance. He also could not meet the conditions for bail such as putting up real estate as a guarantee or having backing from a prominent local citizen . During his time in detention, his physical and emotional health deteriorated. Members of the local LGBTQ community brought him food, but the deliveries were irregular and could not meet his basic needs. Relying on meager and unsanitary prison food, he became malnourished and emotionally distressed.

Chidi’s case was included in the 2026 round of Project Not Alone, a fundraising initiative that uses readers’ donations to free innocent imprisoned victims of legal homophobia in Nigeria and Cameroon. In articles about them, all the prisoners are identified with pseudonyms for their safety.

Project Not Alone is an initiative of the U.S.-based St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, which supports LGBTQ rights advocacy journalism, including the Erasing 76 Crimes news site.

Project Not Alone arranged for an attorney to work on Chidi’s case pro bono. The expenses of legal filings totalled $600.

Overall, Project Not Alone spent $1,951 on Chidi’s case, including $600 for legal filings, $650 to pay a fine and court costs, $250 for a mental-health evaluation and $171 for a proper ID.

In late July, Chidi was released. As part of his release conditions, Chidi underwent psychotherapy. He is now staying in a safe house and receiving ongoing psychosocial support as he prepares to transition back to a productive life.

Chidi at safe house. (Mike Daemon photo) — **Chidi at a safe house in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. (Mike Daemon photo)**

“I am truly grateful to everyone who supported me throughout my difficult time in prison,” Chidi said recently. “Things were hard, and they are still hard for me… . But this experience has helped me know that I am not alone,” he said.

“I will help those in need, especially people in my community.”

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Chidi hopes to return to school. If that is not possible, he wants to start a business and become financially independent.

“I love education, but in Nigeria, one [cannot] stay idle for any reason. Life is hard enough. I would like to go into business so I can support myself and be independent,” he said.

Specifically, he wants to set up a provision shop.

For Chidi, the months in detention have changed how he sees the future. He wants to tell other LGBTQ Nigerians what he experienced so they don’t have to.

Court document releasing Chidi from prison. — **Redacted copy of the court document releasing Chidi from prison on July 24, 2026.**

DONATIONS

Please donate to Project Not Alone to help free innocent LGBTI victims of African homophobia and to make necessary updates to the Qtalk phone app so gay Nigerians will keep their access to its free, confidential counseling services.

Project Not Alone is a program of the non-profit St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation and its Erasing 76 Crimes news site. U.S. tax-deductible donations to Project Not Alone 2026 may be made via:

PayPal (for U.S. dollar contributions). For other currencies, send PayPal donations to stpaulsfdr@gmail.com
DonorBox
GoFundMe
Alternatively, you could send a check to St. Paul’s Foundation, c/o Colin Stewart, 5517 Paseo del Lago East Unit 1B, Laguna Woods CA 92637 USA. Please write “Project Not Alone” on the memo line and send an email to info@76crimes.com to let us know it’s coming.