Metro
Court sentences pastor to death for killing 16-year-old daughter accused of witchcraft in Calabar
A High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced Apostle Ubong Bassey Etim, 51, to death by hanging for the murder of his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey.
Justice Blessing Egwu of High Court No. 11 delivered the judgment after finding the cleric guilty of murder in the case State v. Ubong Bassey Etim (Suit No. HC/54C/2025).
According to reports, Deborah, who was living with Down syndrome, was allegedly accused of witchcraft before she was killed on February 15, 2025. The incident sparked nationwide outrage, with child rights and human rights organisations demanding justice for the teenager.
The Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), which supported the prosecution, described the judgment as a landmark victory for child protection and the fight against witchcraft branding.
Reacting to the verdict, BRCI’s Principal Counsel, James Ibor, said the ruling sends a clear message that violence against children under the guise of witchcraft accusations will not be tolerated.
The organisation noted that children living with disabilities remain among the most vulnerable to harmful traditional beliefs, false accusations, abuse, abandonment and even death.
BRCI also commended the Nigeria Police Force, the Cross River State Ministry of Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions and other stakeholders for their roles in securing the conviction.
The judgment is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts by child rights advocates seeking stricter enforcement of laws against child abuse and witchcraft-related violence in Cross River State and across Nigeria.
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