Abuja Area Mama

Ifeanyi Chukwu-Agah Benedict (20 April 1991 – 8 August 2024), predominantly known as Abuja Area Mama, was a Nigerian sex worker, social media personality, and an LGBTQ rights activist. She was murdered on 8 August 2024 and her case remains unsolved.

Early life Ifeanyi Chukwu-Agah Benedict was born in Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi State, and raised in Gwagwa. At an early age, she took an interest in "cross-dressing", often dressing as a female and wearing make-up and wigs. Benedict became aware of her sexuality at the age of 10, considering herself to be gay. She began working as a hairdresser and make-up artist. As she pursued sex work, Benedict was subject to multiple physical assaults, including a knife stabbing that was later documented on her social media video in September 2023.

Personal life Despite being labeled as transgender by several media outlets, Benedict identified as a gay male who "cross dress"; an act where she would dress as a woman.

Death On the night of 7 August 2024, CNN, and PinkNews. Nigerian human rights group The Initiative For Equal Rights (TIERS) offered their condolences. An online petition, hosted by All Out, was started with the goal of reaching 10,000 signatures to be sent to the Nigeria Ministry of Justice. Nigerian journalist Martins Ifijeh referred to the murder as "the worst form of inhumanity".

On 5 August 2025, a Nigerian non-governmental human rights organization known as Minority Watch (Minority Advocates for Education and Equitable Access to Rights Initiative) filed a lawsuit in the Federal High Court of Nigeria against the Abuja division of the police force for failing to properly investigate the murder. Minority Watch, in collaboration with two other non-governmental organizations, submitted a formal petition to the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on 8 August 2024. A follow-up petition was also submitted on 12 February 2025. Furthermore, they are seeking an order of mandamus directing the police to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the murder, apprehend the perpetrators, and ensure they are prosecuted in accordance with the law.