Cross River State High Court in Akamkpa council area has sentenced one Mr. Anyanime Festus Udo to death for killing his 11-year-old twins over witchcraft claim.
The trial Judge, Agnes Onyebueke who delivered the judgment on Tuesday in suit number HK/6C/2018, sentenced Udo for killing Mfoniso Anyanime and Emediong Anyanime in 2017.
A Child Right Activist, James Ibor, in a statement released to Journalists in Calabar said justice has been served.
Ibor who is also a Lead Counsel for Basic Rights Counsel Initiatives (BRCI), that facilitated the prosecution, commended the Cross River State government, the Police and BRCI for their doggedness on the matter.
He cautioned parents and pastors to stop witchcraft branding and stigmatisation of children.
The judgment comes, after the United Nations urged nations to take measures against abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs and ritual sacrifice.
Ibor, who also confirmed the sentence to The Guardian said: “This is a great victory to the victims – Mfoniso Anyanime and Emediong Anyanime and the government of Cross River State at a period where witchcraft branding and ritual killing has ended.
“We use this opportunity to thank Justice Onyebueke for her courage, Attorney General, Tanko Ashang and his able team, the Commissioner of Police Cross River State and the General Hospital Akamkpa, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), staff and volunteers of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative. Stop witchcraft accusations, witch persecution, and ritual killing. Blood money is superstition,” he warned.
