A High Court sitting in Cross River State has sentenced a father to death by hanging for killing his twin daughters in 2017.
The convict, identified as Anyanime Festus, a taxi driver was arrested for killing his 11-year-old identical twin daughters, Emediong Festus and Mfoniso Festus, after accusing them of being witches.
It was gathered that he had deceived the girls into believing that he was taking them to their mother.
However, on the way, in a bush path leading to their destination, he stopped and gave them a poisoned drink to consume and later abandoned them there.
The sisters were later found by locals lying along Uyanga bush track in Akamkpa area of the state, with one dead and the other too weak to speak.
When one of the girls eventually spoke, she told them what their father had done before passing on in the hospital.
Pronouncing the judgement on Tuesday, Justice A. A. Onyebueke, sentenced Festus to death by hanging after finding him guilty as charged.
Reacting to the judgement, Barr. James Ibor of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) said the ruling was in order, adding that the United Nations has urged countries to take measures against abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs and ritual sacrifice.
“Stop Witchcraft accusations, witch persecution and ritual killing. Blood money is superstition. E no dey work.
“Pastors stop witchcraft branding and stigmatisation. It is a Crime,” Ibor added.
