A young Nigerian man identified simply as Hilary has died after a violent homophobic attack in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he was allegedly lured, beaten, and thrown from a two-storey building by suspected assailants.
The incident, which has triggered widespread outrage on social media, was confirmed by Rev. Jide Macaulay, founder of the House of Rainbow, who announced Hilary’s death in an Instagram post on Friday, October 24, 2025.
In his post, Macaulay described the assault as “a brutal act of hate,” explaining that Hilary had been deceived into attending a meeting under false pretences before being attacked.
He said the victim sustained severe spinal cord injuries and later died from the complications.
“Hilary was deceived, lured into a meeting under false pretence, and subjected to a brutal homophobic attack in Port Harcourt. He was beaten and thrown from a two-storey building,” Macaulay wrote.
“Hilary fought for his life, but yesterday, he succumbed to the injuries to his spinal cord and the violent cruelty inflicted upon him.”
Macaulay, a queer theologian and HIV activist, expressed deep grief over the loss, describing it as the second reported “kito”-related death in Nigeria within two weeks.
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Kito is a term used locally for cases where LGBTQ+ individuals are deceived, trapped, or attacked due to their sexual orientation.
“Two beautiful souls gone because of hate, fear, and the failure of our society to protect its own,” he wrote. “May Hilary’s memory strengthen our resolve for justice and peace.”
Hilary’s death has reignited calls for justice and renewed debate over the safety of LGBTQ+ persons in Nigeria, where same-sex relationships remain criminalised under the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014.
Human rights organisations and queer advocacy groups across Nigeria and beyond have condemned the killing and demanded a full investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible.