Rhoda Jatau, a Christian woman from Bauchi State, finally breathed the air of freedom on Wednesday after spending 18 months in prison for speaking out against the brutal killing of Samuel Deborah, a university student who was lynched by a mob for her faith.
Jatau, a mother of five, was arrested in May 2022 for sharing a video on WhatsApp that condemned the horrific murder of Deborah, a 200-level student of Home Economics at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto. Deborah was attacked by a group of her classmates on May 12, 2022, after she advised them not to post religious materials on their WhatsApp page. She was beaten, stabbed, and set on fire by the enraged mob, who accused her of blasphemy.
Jatau, who did not know Deborah personally, was outraged by the gruesome act and expressed her sympathy for the victim and her family. She also called for justice and an end to religious intolerance in Nigeria. However, instead of being commended for her courage and compassion, she was charged with “inciting public disturbance, contempt of religious creed and cyber-stalking” under the Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Her case drew the attention of human rights activists, religious leaders, and social media users, who demanded her immediate and unconditional release. They also criticized the Nigerian authorities for failing to arrest and prosecute the killers of Deborah, who remained at large despite the police’s promises to bring them to justice.
Jatau was unexpectedly released from prison after the intervention of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which negotiated with the state government and the prosecution to drop the case.
Jatau was welcomed by her husband, children, and other relatives, who hugged her and shed tears of joy. She also thanked God, CAN, and all those who supported her and prayed for her during her ordeal.
”I am very happy and grateful to God for this day have suffered a lot for something I did not do, i only spoke the truth and stood for justice. I did not insult anyone or incite violence i was only expressing my opinion and my faith,” she said.
She also said she forgave those who accused her and persecuted her, and urged Nigerians to live in peace and harmony, regardless of their religious differences.
Nigeria is a great country with diverse people. We should respect each other and coexist peacefully. We should not kill or harm each other because of our beliefs. God is the judge of all,” she said.
Jatau release was hailed as a victory for human rights and religious freedom by many Nigerians, who celebrated her on social media and congratulated her on her freedom. They also called on the government to end the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in Nigeria, and to ensure the protection of their lives and dignity.
