Court sentences pastor to death for killing daughter over alleged witchcraft

A Cross River State High Court sitting in Calabar has sentenced Apostle Ubong Bassey Etim to death by hanging for the murder of his 16-year-old daughter, Deborah Bassey, after falsely accusing her of witchcraft.

Justice Blessing Egwu of High Court No. 11 delivered the judgment on Monday, holding that the prosecution proved the offence of murder beyond reasonable doubt and established the defendant’s guilt through credible evidence presented during the trial.

The verdict brings to a close a case that attracted widespread national attention and condemnation from child rights advocates, disability rights groups and civil society organisations, who described the killing as a tragic consequence of harmful witchcraft accusations against children, particularly those living with disabilities.

According to evidence presented before the court, Deborah Bassey, who was living with Down syndrome, was repeatedly accused of being a witch by her father before she was eventually killed. Prosecutors argued that the accusations were baseless and driven by superstition rather than any factual evidence.

In delivering judgment, Justice Egwu ruled that the prosecution successfully established all the essential ingredients of the offence of murder, leaving no reasonable doubt as to the defendant’s culpability. The court subsequently imposed the death sentence prescribed under the applicable provisions of the law.

The judgment has been welcomed by child protection advocates, who say it sends a strong message that perpetrators of violence against children will be held accountable regardless of their social or religious status.

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Reacting to the ruling, the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) described the conviction as a landmark victory in the fight against child abuse, witchcraft branding and violence targeting vulnerable children.

In a statement signed by its Principal Counsel and Co-Founder, James Ibor, the organisation said the judgment represents a significant milestone in efforts to eliminate the dangerous practice of accusing children of witchcraft.

According to BRCI, the verdict not only delivers justice for Deborah but also reinforces the principle that every child has the constitutional right to life, dignity and protection from abuse.

The organisation said the decision should serve as a warning to individuals who continue to subject children to torture, abandonment or death based on false accusations of witchcraft.

BRCI commended the Nigeria Police Force, the Cross River State Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, prosecutors, investigators and other stakeholders whose efforts contributed to the successful prosecution of the case.

The group also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable children and pledged to intensify advocacy against witchcraft accusations, child abuse and discrimination affecting children living with disabilities.

Child rights advocates have repeatedly expressed concern over the continued stigmatisation of children with developmental or intellectual disabilities in some communities, where myths and superstitions have occasionally resulted in abuse, abandonment and even killings.

Experts emphasise that Down syndrome is a naturally occurring genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21. Medical professionals have consistently stated that the condition has no connection with supernatural beliefs or witchcraft and have urged families to seek appropriate healthcare, education and social support for affected children.

The case has also renewed calls for stronger enforcement of Nigeria’s Child Rights Act and related child protection laws enacted by various states, which prohibit abuse, neglect, discrimination and all forms of violence against children.

Legal analysts say the conviction reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and ensuring that offences involving children are prosecuted without fear or favour.

Advocates are also urging governments, religious institutions, traditional leaders and community organisations to increase public awareness about disability rights and child protection while discouraging harmful beliefs that expose children to violence.

The judgment is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies and child protection organisations to combat witchcraft-related violence and ensure justice for victims across Nigeria.

Court sentences pastor to death for killing daughter over alleged witchcraft

Police arrest 147 suspects, recover ammunition, weapons

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 147 suspected criminals and recovered ammunition, dangerous weapons and suspected illicit substances during a large-scale security operation targeting criminal hideouts in the Super, Ile Epo and Boolar areas of the state.

The operation, conducted under the third phase of Operation KO S’AYE, forms part of the command’s intensified crackdown on criminal gangs, armed robbers, cultists and other violent offenders operating across Lagos.

Confirming the development on Monday, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the coordinated raid was carried out at about 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2026, following credible intelligence about the activities of hoodlums terrorising residents and commuters.

According to her, the operation involved a joint team of officers drawn from various tactical and conventional police formations, who simultaneously stormed identified criminal black spots in a bid to dismantle criminal networks and restore public safety.

“As part of the ongoing Operation KO S’AYE III, the Lagos State Police Command has continued its intensive clearance operations targeting criminal hideouts across the state, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to denying criminals any safe haven and ensuring the safety and security of all residents,” Adebisi said.

She explained that residents had repeatedly complained about suspected criminals who allegedly attacked motorists, robbed passers-by and used the affected locations as bases for criminal activities, especially at night.

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The intelligence-led operation resulted in the arrest of 147 suspects, all of whom are currently in police custody pending the conclusion of investigations.

Police also recovered several items believed to have been used in criminal operations, including 250 spent cartridge cases, two live cartridges, 22 machetes, five battle axes, two knives, one pair of scissors, one lighter, assorted traditional charms and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

Investigators are examining the recovered exhibits to determine whether they are connected to previous cases of armed robbery, cult-related violence or other criminal activities reported within the state.

Adebisi said each suspect would be screened individually to determine his or her level of involvement in criminal activities, adding that only those found culpable would face prosecution.

“All the suspects are currently in police custody while investigations are ongoing to determine their individual culpability. Those found to have committed criminal offences will be prosecuted accordingly,” she stated.

Reacting to the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, commended the officers for their professionalism, courage and commitment to combating crime.

He reiterated that Operation KO S’AYE would continue across Lagos as part of the command’s strategy to eliminate criminal hideouts, strengthen intelligence-led policing and improve the safety of residents.

The police commissioner also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence capable of exposing criminal hideouts and preventing violent crimes.

According to him, effective collaboration between the police and communities remains essential to sustaining the gains recorded in the fight against crime.

The latest operation underscores the Nigeria Police Force’s renewed emphasis on intelligence-driven policing and proactive crime prevention. In recent months, the Lagos State Police Command has intensified raids on abandoned buildings, illegal settlements and identified criminal hotspots under Operation KO S’AYE, leading to the arrest of suspected armed robbers, cultists, drug traffickers and other criminal suspects.

Security analysts have welcomed the continued operations, noting that sustained intelligence gathering, community engagement and strict prosecution of offenders will be crucial to reducing violent crime in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

The police reaffirmed their commitment to protecting lives and property and urged Lagos residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities through the command’s emergency response channels.

Police arrest 147 suspects, recover ammunition, weapons

Court sentences Ansaru leaders to life imprisonment over terrorism, kidnapping

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced two senior leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, an Al-Qaeda-linked extremist organisation, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism, terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining and the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Monday, convicting Abubakar Abba, also known as Abu Bara, and Mahmud Usman, also known as Isah Adam, Abbas, Mukhtar or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, after both defendants voluntarily changed their earlier not-guilty pleas and admitted all the charges brought against them by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The court sentenced the convicts to life imprisonment on Counts 30 and 31, while imposing 20-year prison terms on each of the remaining counts. Justice Nwite further ordered that the prison terms on the other counts should take effect from the date of their arrest.

The conviction followed months of trial after the defendants initially denied the allegations when they were first arraigned before the court in September 2025. However, during Monday’s proceedings, defence counsel informed the court that the defendants had decided to abandon their previous pleas and admit responsibility for all the offences.

After confirming that the guilty pleas were made voluntarily and in accordance with the law, the court convicted both men on all 32 counts before proceeding to sentence them.

The DSS had accused the defendants of occupying senior leadership positions within Ansaru, a terrorist organisation affiliated with Al-Qaeda and linked to several attacks, kidnappings and terrorist operations across northern Nigeria and parts of the Sahel.

According to the prosecution, Mahmud Usman served as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, while Abubakar Abba was identified as the group’s deputy leader and chief of staff.

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The charges included terrorism, terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), funding terrorist operations, coordinating sleeper cells and maintaining operational links with extremist groups across the Sahel and Maghreb regions.

During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence through a DSS operative identified only by the codename “Triple A.” The witness testified that both defendants confessed to receiving advanced weapons and explosives training in Libya from instructors connected to extremist networks operating in Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.

The witness further told the court that the defendants admitted membership of the Ansaru group and confessed to participating in kidnapping operations, illegal mining used to finance terrorist activities and the coordination of terrorist cells operating within and outside Nigeria.

Court records also showed that Mahmud Usman had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of illegal mining allegedly used to finance terrorism and was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment on that count before the trial continued on the remaining charges.

The two convicts were arrested during separate intelligence-led operations conducted between May and July 2025, an exercise that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had described as one of Nigeria’s most significant breakthroughs against the Ansaru terrorist network.

Announcing the arrests in 2025, Ribadu said the operations disrupted key leadership figures within the group and reflected improved collaboration among Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies in combating terrorism.

Security experts say Monday’s judgment represents another major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to dismantle terrorist leadership structures through intelligence-driven investigations and successful prosecutions.

The conviction also reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to pursuing individuals involved not only in violent extremist activities but also in terrorism financing, illegal mining and other criminal enterprises used to sustain insurgent groups.

Ansaru, formally known as Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, emerged as a splinter faction of Boko Haram and has maintained ideological and operational links with Al-Qaeda. The group has been blamed for numerous attacks on security personnel, kidnappings for ransom and assaults on civilian communities in northern Nigeria over the past decade.

The Federal Government has intensified military operations, intelligence gathering and criminal prosecutions against Ansaru, Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) as part of broader efforts to restore peace and dismantle terrorist networks across the North-East and North-West.

The latest judgment is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s counter-terrorism campaign by demonstrating that individuals involved in terrorism-related offences will face the full weight of the law.

Court sentences Ansaru leaders to life imprisonment over terrorism, kidnapping