After eighteen months in custody in Bauchi prison for reportedly denouncing Samuel Deborah’s death due to blasphemy in Sokoto state, Rhoda Jatau has been freed.
Following intervention by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jatau was allegedly freed on Friday, December 8.
According to Gistlover the mother of five had been detained for blasphemy since May 2022.
On May 20, 2022, Jatau was taken into custody by the Bauchi state government following rioting that resulted from a supposedly profane post she made on WhatsApp.
Her statement was purportedly a reaction to the killing of Deborah, who was slain by a crowd in an incident of perceived profane speech. Jatau was purportedly “inciting public disturbance; exciting contempt of religious creed; and cyberstalking” under Sections 114, 210 of the Penal Code Law and Section 24 Subsection 1b(i) of the Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act 2015 Laws.”
Deborah, a Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, 200-level student, was assassinated after she cautioned her peers not to share religious materials on a WhatsApp group.
According to Punch, The Inter-Religious Councilas played “a key role” in securing Jatau’s release from prison
Nevertheless, neither the court that granted Jatau bail nor the terms of his release were disclosed by the source. We are happy to inform that Mrs. Rhoda was freed from custody today after being granted bail. We’re hoping for a positive outcome in this case. Let’s keep remembering her in our prayers,” the source reportedly stated.
