In recent days, the horrific death of a man known as Hilary who was reportedly lured, beaten and thrown from a multi-storey building because of his real or perceived sexual orientation has once again exposed a seething tension in Nigerian society. The savage act is brought into sharper relief by the social media comments that followed: mockery, schadenfreude, and a chilling belief by some that this murder was somehow “justified.”
But let us be very clear: regardless of your moral perspective on homosexuality, no law in Nigeria permits murder. What we are witnessing is vigilante justice dressed up as cultural or moral cleansing—and it must be condemned.
The Legal and Scholarly Landscape
It is true that Nigeria has a legal regime against same-sex relationships. The Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013 (SSMPA) criminalises same-sex marriage and penalises “public show of same-sex amorous relationships” among other provisions. ([Wikipedia][1])
Scholarship abounds on whether such laws should exist at all. For example, the article “An analysis of political homophobia, elitism and social exclusion in the colonial origins of anti-gay laws in Nigeria” argues that the law is a colonial legacy, socially exclusionary and in conflict with constitutional and human rights norms. ([AHRLJ][2])
Another piece contends that although created by the National Assembly and legally valid, the anti-gay laws are nevertheless arguably unconstitutional. ([Nigerian Journals Online][3])
Yet (and this is critical) none of these laws prescribe death or pushing someone from a roof. The penalty under federal statutes is imprisonment (in many Southern states) and, in some northern states under Sharia systems, more extreme punishments may be invoked but even then, formal legal process, evidence, trial, conviction must occur. ([GAY TIMES][4])
In other words: the law may be contested, unfair, perhaps even unlawful in human-rights terms and is definitely not a licence for murder. Therefore, to bypass courts and evidence and drag someone out of a building to kill them is to reject the rule of law itself.
Recent Killings and Mob Violence
This is not an isolated incident. In the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, a popular cross-dresser and social-media personality known as “Abuja Area Mama” (also known as Ifeanyi Chukwu-Agah Benedict) was found dead along Katampe-Mabushi Expressway in August 2024, beaten and seriously wounded before death. ([Voice of America][5])
Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups have documented how the SSMPA has emboldened mob violence and impunity: they found a pattern in which suspected gay men are attacked, humiliated publicly, tortured, and often denied access to justice. ([Human Rights Watch][6])
This pattern sets the stage for erecting a moral justification for murder: “They are sinful, therefore they deserve elimination.” This logic is dangerous — and false.
The Hypocrisy of Extreme Homophobia
It is tempting to say that those who commit or cheer such violence wear their hatred openly. But psychologists warn of another dimension: extreme anti-gay hostility (“sexual prejudice” or “homophobia”) may sometimes reflect threatened or concealed same-sex attraction. Although direct Nigerian studies on “secret homosexuality among homophobes” remain thin, the global literature on internalised homophobia and minority stress offers insight. For example, a Nigerian study with gay and bisexual men found that higher levels of internalised homophobia were associated with lower quality of life, and correlated with religious stress, discrimination, secrecy and concealment. ([PubMed][7])
In other words: some individuals who violently condemn homosexuality might themselves be struggling with same-sex feelings or be terrified of being identified; their hostility becomes a protective shield. While this is not a blanket explanation for all violent homophobia, the hypocrisy is stark when those who break moral rules (corruption, sexual exploitation, abuse) judge others so harshly and then act with fatal violence.
The Law Must Be Enforced Properly — Not By the Mob
If the state truly upholds justice, the following must occur:
* Arrests of killers must follow due process, evidence gathering, arrest warrants, trials.
* The victims must be treated as full human beings with rights — regardless of orientation or perceived behaviour.
Judges must apply the law, not the mob. The law may penalise same-sex acts (controversially) but it does not permit murder.
Society must reclaim moral discourse from the mob. If you believe something is immoral, take it to the legislature, the courts, the classroom — not the rooftop or the alley.
When society allows vigilante murder in the name of “morality,” it collapses the difference between law-breaker and law-maker, between citizen and executioner. That collapse undermines justice for all including those who believe they are acting righteously.
What We Must Demand — and Reflect On
*Demand justice for Hilary, for Abuja Area Mama, for anyone killed because of who they are or who others believe they are. No cause justifies killing.
* Admit that if we judge others for “immorality,” we must still recognise their right to life. If the moral standard demands life be valued, then we cannot exempt a class of persons from that protection.
* Face the hypocrisy: we tolerate grand corruption, extrajudicial killings, political violence - yet we reserve particular hatred and violence for sexual minorities. What does that say about us?
* Recognise that whether or not one supports repeal of the SSMPA (and indeed many scholars argue it should be repealed) - the proper route is legislative and judicial reform, not throwing someone from a building.
Conclusion
The death of Hilary is a wake-up call to the rot beneath the surface of moral bravado. It is a reminder that laws, however controversial, cannot be replaced by the will of a mob. It is a reminder that “justice” cannot be selective, that rule of law must apply equally. And it is a reminder that when a society justifies violence in the name of morality, it places itself on a slippery slope - one that threatens everyone’s rights.
We must stand for dignity - for all. We must insist that culture, religion, morality, do not become excuses for murder. Because if they do, then none of us is safe.
May Hilary’s death force reflection, reform and recognition of the basic truth: human life is sacred, regardless of who we are.
References:
[1] Wikipedia. “Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-Sex_Marriage_(Prohibition)_Act_2013](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-Sex_Marriage_%28Prohibition%29_Act_2013)
[2] African Human Rights Law Journal (AHRLJ). “An analysis of political homophobia, elitism and social exclusion in the colonial origins of anti-gay laws in Nigeria.” AHRLJ. [https://www.ahrlj.up.ac.za/](https://www.ahrlj.up.ac.za/)
[3] Nigerian Journals Online. “On the constitutionality of Nigeria's anti-gay laws.” Nigerian Journals Online [https://www.nigerianjournalsonline.com/](https://www.nigerianjournalsonline.com/)
[4] GAY TIMES. “Nigeria's anti-LGBTQ+ laws and the danger faced by queer people.” GAY TIMES. [https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/](https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/)
[5] Voice of America (VOA News). “Nigeria: Death of Abuja cross-dresser sparks public outrage.” VOA News. [https://www.voanews.com/](https://www.voanews.com/)
[6] Human Rights Watch. “Nigeria: Mob attacks, torture under the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act.” Human Rights Watch. [https://www.hrw.org/](https://www.hrw.org/)
[7] PubMed. “Internalized homophobia and quality of life among Nigerian gay and bisexual men.” PubMed. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)
