A High Court in Cross River State has sentenced Apostle Ubong Bassey Etim to death by hanging for killing his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey, who had Down’s syndrome, after accusing her of witchcraft.

Justice Blessing Egwu of High Court No. 11, Calabar, delivered the judgment on Monday, July 20, 2026, after Etim was found guilty of the murder.

The incident occurred on February 15, 2025, at the family’s residence on Jacob Street, off Eyo Edem, Calabar South Local Government Area.

According to court records, Deborah fell while attempting to dispose of her faeces after she was instructed to do so by her father. Etim had previously accused her of being a witch and a snake.

The conviction was secured with the support of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI), a non-governmental organisation focused on protecting the rights of women and children.

Reacting to the judgment, Principal Counsel of BRCI, James Ibor, described the case as a reminder of the dangers posed by witchcraft accusations against children, especially those living with disabilities.

“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,” Ibor said.

He added that false witchcraft allegations had led to the rejection, torture, abandonment, and killing of innocent children in some communities.

“Today’s judgment sends a strong message that such acts are criminal and that perpetrators will be held fully accountable under the law,” he said.

Ibor said the ruling represented not only justice for Deborah but also a step forward in efforts to end harmful practices against children.

BRCI also commended the Nigeria Police Force, the Cross River State Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, and individuals involved in the prosecution for their roles in securing the conviction.

The organisation specifically acknowledged the contributions of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Okoi Ukam; Patrick Usang, Esq.; Deborah Tom, Esq.; and Dr David Ushie of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

It also appreciated support from partners, including Women Arise, Safe Child Africa, Project Alert, Etinosa Yvonne, and members of the BRCI team, for providing assistance to Deborah’s mother and siblings.

During the trial, Deborah’s brother, Bassey, narrated that he went to unlock the room where his sister was kept at about 4pm to help her dispose of her faeces, but their father insisted she should do it herself.

After completing the task, Deborah slipped and fell on her way back to the room. Bassey said he called their father, who entered the room and asked him to leave while he attended to her.

He said the children were later shocked when their father called them into the room and announced that Deborah had died.

Deborah’s mother, who had been in a custody dispute with Etim over their three children, told the court that the killing was not the first incident of violence in the family.

“We have suffered severe physical abuses leading to my running away,” she said.