Rita Enemuru, Reporting
A High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced a 51-year-old cleric, Apostle Ubong Bassey Etim, to death by hanging for the murder of his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey, who was allegedly branded a witch before she was killed.
Justice Blessing Egwu of High Court No. 11 delivered the judgement on Monday, finding Etim guilty of murder in Suit No. HC/54C/2025, State v. Ubong Bassey Etim.
Deborah, who was living with Down syndrome, was killed on February 15, 2025, in an incident that sparked widespread outrage and reignited concerns over the persistent and deadly practice of witchcraft accusations against children, particularly those living with disabilities.
The prosecution received support from the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), a child rights advocacy organisation, which hailed the court’s decision as a landmark judgment in the fight against harmful traditional practices and violence against vulnerable children.
Reacting to the verdict, BRCI Principal Counsel James Ibor described the judgment as justice for Deborah and a significant step toward protecting the rights of children across Nigeria.
“This judgement is not only justice for Deborah but also a reaffirmation of the fundamental principle that every child has the right to life, dignity and protection,” Ibor said.
He added that the ruling sends a clear message that the branding of children as witches and the abuse or killing of vulnerable persons are serious criminal offences that will attract the full weight of the law.
The case has reignited national conversations about the dangers of witchcraft accusations, especially against children with disabilities, and the urgent need for stronger enforcement of child protection laws across the country.
Human rights campaigners have long warned that children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to such accusations, which often lead to abandonment, abuse, and in the most tragic cases, death.
The verdict has been widely welcomed by child protection advocates who see it as a crucial deterrent against the deeply ingrained cultural practice that continues to claim young lives.
Efforts to eradicate witchcraft-related child abuse have gained momentum in recent years, with organisations like BRCI working alongside law enforcement agencies to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
The Cross River State judiciary has been commended for its handling of the case, which many see as setting a vital precedent for future prosecutions involving child abuse and harmful traditional practices.
