A High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced a pastor, Ubong Etim, to death by hanging for the murder of his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey, who had Down syndrome and was falsely accused of being a witch.
Justice Blessing Egwu of Cross River State High Court No. 11 delivered the judgement on Monday after finding Etim guilty of murder, ruling that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The conviction was disclosed by lawyer James Ibor, Principal Counsel and Co-founder of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), in a statement posted on Facebook.
Deborah was killed on February 15, 2025, in a case that sparked widespread outrage among child rights advocates and organisations campaigning against witchcraft accusations and violence against children living with disabilities.
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Reacting to the judgement, the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative described the verdict as a landmark victory in the fight against witchcraft branding, child abuse and harmful traditional practices.
According to the organisation, Deborah’s death highlighted the devastating consequences of falsely accusing vulnerable children of witchcraft, a practice that continues to expose many children, particularly those living with disabilities, to abuse, abandonment and death.
“Deborah’s tragic death exposed the devastating consequences of witchcraft branding, a harmful practice that continues to endanger the lives of children, particularly children living with disabilities,” the organisation said.
It added that false accusations of witchcraft have resulted in the rejection, torture, abandonment and killing of children in several communities across Nigeria.
“This judgement is not only justice for Deborah; it is also a significant milestone in the ongoing fight to end witchcraft branding and other harmful practices against children. It reinforces the fundamental principle that every child has the right to life, dignity and protection,” the statement added.
The organisation commended the Nigeria Police Force, the Cross River State Ministry of Justice under the Attorney General, Ededem Ani, and the judiciary for ensuring a diligent investigation, prosecution and trial of the case.
It also praised the Director of Public Prosecutions, Okoi Ukam, prosecutors Rajunor Tom and Patrick Usang, as well as David Ushie of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for their roles in securing the conviction.
In addition, BRCI acknowledged the support of Women Arise, Safe Child Africa, Project Alert, Etinosa Yvonne and other partners for providing financial and psychosocial support to Deborah’s mother and siblings throughout the trial.
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Deborah’s killing is the latest in a series of cases that have drawn attention to the dangers of witchcraft accusations in parts of Cross River State, where rights groups say vulnerable children, women and persons living with disabilities continue to face persecution driven by superstition and religious extremism.
For years, child rights organisations have campaigned against the practice of branding children as witches, warning that such accusations often lead to violence, torture, abandonment and, in some cases, death.
Monday’s judgement is expected to strengthen efforts by government agencies and rights advocates to combat witchcraft branding and ensure greater protection for vulnerable children across the country.
