Anyanime Festus Uyanga from Akamkpa Local Government in Cross River State has been sentenced to death by hanging by Honorable Justice A. A. Onyebueke of Cross River State High Court, sitting in Akamkpa over the death of his 11-year-old twin daughters, Mfoniso and Emediong Anyanime.
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According to reports, he accused them of being witches, and killed them on January 11, 2017.
The bodies of the two female identical twins were found lying along Uyanga bush track in Akamkpa, with one of the twins found dead while the other was lying down and was unable to speak.
After a while, the other twin that was lying down was able to speak and narrated how their father on January 10, 2017 told them he was taking them to their mother, and on getting to a bush track, he gave them malt drink suspected to be mixed with poisonous substances.
According to her, after they drank the malt, her sister died and their father abandoned them there.
The surviving twin later died in the hospital and their corpses deposited at the General Hospital, Akamkpa, for autopsy.
Reacting to the judgement, Barr. James Ibor of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (BRCI) said:
"This is a great victory to the victims- Mfoniso Anyanime and Emediong Anyanime and the Government of Cross River State at a period witchcraft branding and ritual killing has become a pastime in the State
"The United Nations has urged nations 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". He said
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