A High Court in Nigeria’s Cross River State has sentenced a 51-year-old pastor, 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.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Blessing Egwu on Monday, 20 July 2026, concluded a case that attracted widespread attention across Nigeria and renewed concerns over the continued branding of children as witches in parts of the country.
The court heard that Deborah was killed on 15 February 2025 after her father accused her of practising witchcraft.
Justice Egwu ruled that the prosecution had proved the murder charge beyond reasonable doubt and imposed the mandatory death sentence prescribed by law. The court found that the evidence presented during the trial established the pastor’s guilt.
The killing sparked outrage among disability rights advocates, child protection organisations and members of the public, who condemned Deborah’s murder and demanded justice.
Her death also reignited debate over the dangers of witchcraft accusations against children, particularly those living with disabilities or developmental conditions such as Down syndrome.
Child rights organisations have long warned that such accusations place vulnerable children at heightened risk of abuse, abandonment and, in some cases, death.
Reacting to the judgment, the founder of Daddy’s Girls said the ruling sent a strong message that perpetrators of child abuse and harmful practices would be held accountable under Nigerian law, regardless of their social or religious standing.
Campaigners said the verdict should serve as a deterrent against the abuse of children driven by superstition and misinformation.
They renewed calls for stronger public awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement of child protection laws and greater support for families raising children with disabilities.
Medical experts have also emphasised that Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 and has no connection to spiritual or supernatural causes.
They continue to urge communities to reject harmful myths that place vulnerable children at risk.
Although Apostle Ubong Bassey Etim retains the right to appeal the sentence, the judgment is expected to stand as one of Nigeria’s most significant legal rulings involving the murder of a child following an accusation of witchcraft.
The case also reinforces the judiciary’s role in protecting children’s rights and holding perpetrators of abuse accountable under the law.
