A High Court in Calabar, Nigeria, has sentenced a 51-year-old clergyman, Apostle Ubong Bassey Etim, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murdering his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey, who had Down syndrome and was falsely accused of being a witch.
According to court proceedings, Etim accused his daughter of witchcraft before killing her. The prosecution argued that the accusation was baseless and led to the tragic death of the teenager.
Delivering judgment, Justice Blessing Egwu of the Cross River State High Court No. 11 ruled that the prosecution had proven the charge of murder beyond a reasonable doubt and consequently convicted Etim. The court imposed the maximum sentence prescribed under Nigerian law.
The court’s decision was announced by lawyer James Ibor, who disclosed the verdict in a statement posted on Facebook.
The killing, which occurred on February 15, 2025, sparked widespread outrage among child rights advocates and organisations campaigning against witchcraft accusations and violence targeting children with disabilities.
