My best friend is going to Nigeria to meet a man she’s never met in person
TLDR: Best friend is traveling to Nigeria to meet her boyfriend that she’s never met, and I’m concerned for her safety.
The title pretty much explains it all. For reference, we live in the U.S. She’s been dating this guy long distance for a few months now, and he’s been very controlling already over the phone. I recognize and understand that there are some cultural differences in regards to relationships, and it’s not my place to comment on that - it’s just that his behavior is concerning to me.
She told me the other day that she booked an Airbnb to go meet him in Nigeria in a few months.
Being someone from the U.S., I do not want to demonize Nigeria or the culture or anything like that. I would be just as concerned if she was going somewhere in Europe to do the same thing. At the same time, based off of some research I’ve done (which obviously does not substitute for real life experience), I’m even more concerned.
And apparently this guy DOES have a travel visa to Jamaica (where my friend has family nearby, as well) but she refuses to go there to meet him. That would obviously still be dangerous - meeting someone she’s never met in person - but at the very least it would be a place she’s familiar with.
She will not listen whatsoever. She’s extremely defensive. And look, it’s her life. But I’m concerned for her safety.
I don’t know what exactly I’m hoping for by posting this, since I don’t think there’s any getting through to her. I guess I just want some feedback as to whether or not I’m overreacting.