COURT SENTENCES PASTOR TO D£ATH FOR K!LL!NG HIS 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME OVER WITCHCRAFT ACCUSATION IN CALABAR

A High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced Apostle Ubong Bassey Etim to de@th by hanging for the m¥rder of his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey.

Etim had falsely accused Deborah, who lived with Down syndrome, of witchcraft before k+lling her.

Justice Blessing Egwu of High Court No. 11, Calabar, delivered the judgment on Monday, ruling that the prosecution had proved the charge of m¥rder against the clergyman beyond reasonable doubt.

Deborah’s de@th sparked widespread outrage among child rights and human rights organisations, which condemned the k+lling as another tragic consequence of witchcraft accusations against children, particularly those living with disabilities.

Reacting to the judgment, the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), in a statement signed by its Principal Counsel and Co-Founder, James Ibor, described the conviction as a landmark victory in the f+ght to protect children from witchcraft branding and related vi%lence.

The organisation said the verdict sends a strong message that anyone who subjects children to vi%lence or de@th based on false witchcraft allegations will face the full weight of the law.

BRCI added that the judgment not only delivered justice for Deborah but also strengthened ongoing efforts to eliminate harmful practices that expose children to ab¥se, tort¥re, abandonment and de@th.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable children, pledging to continue advocating against witchcraft branding and all forms of vi%lence against children until such practices are completely eradicated and perpetrators are consistently brought to justice.