A High Court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced a man, Ubong Badsey Etim, to death by hanging for the murder of his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Etim, who had Down syndrome.
Justice Blessing Egwu delivered the judgment after finding Etim guilty of murder.
The court heard that the convict falsely accused his daughter of being a witch because of her condition before killing her.
Down syndrome is a lifelong genetic condition that affects physical growth, learning and development.
Despite these challenges, many people living with the condition lead active and fulfilling lives.
Reacting to the judgment, the Co-founder and Counsel of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, Barrister James Ibor, described the verdict as a major step in the fight against the stigmatisation and abuse of children living with disabilities.
He said Deborah’s death highlighted the dangers of witchcraft accusations, which continue to expose vulnerable children to rejection, torture, abandonment and, in extreme cases, murder.
According to him, the court’s decision sends a strong warning that anyone involved in branding children as witches or subjecting them to harmful practices will face the full weight of the law.
“This judgment is not only justice for Deborah but also a significant victory in the campaign to end witchcraft branding and other forms of abuse against children. It reaffirms every child’s right to life, dignity and protection,” he said.
