Nigerian serial killer who murdered nine women in hotel rooms in 'ritual killings' is sentenced to death

A Nigerian serial killer who murdered nine women in hotel rooms in 'ritual killings' has been sentenced to death.

Gracious David-West, 40, was arrested in September last year after several victims were found strangled to death across Port Harcourt, the capital of the southeastern Rivers State. 

They had white cloth wrapped around their necks and waists, possibly indicating ritual crimes, according to police.

The killings sparked outrage and prompted women to take to the streets of the city to demand better police protection. 

Gracious David-West, 40, was arrested in September last year after several victims were found strangled to death across Port Harcourt, the capital of the southeastern Rivers State

'I find you, Gracious David-West, guilty of the murder of nine young women and the attempted murder of another in hotels last year and sentence you to death by hanging,' said judge Adolphus Enebele.

The serial killer appeared in court alongside a woman, Nimi Thankgod, who was acquitted over charges of 'misconduct with the corpse of one of the victims'.

Rivers State has one of the highest crime rates in Nigeria and several violent cults flourish there.

The victims had white cloth wrapped around their necks and waists, possibly indicating ritual crimes, according to police (site where one of the bodies was dumped)

Rivers State has one of the highest crime rates in Nigeria and several violent cults flourish there (police pictured briefing about the serial killings)

Around 2,000 people are currently on death row in Nigeria but only seven have been executed in the past ten years, according to rights groups.

David-West had been paraded through the streets by police following his arrest with authorities publishing a video on Twitter showing him admitting to the murders.

But, a month later, he retracted his statement and pleaded not guilty in court.