Rhoda Jatau, a Bauchi woman who had been incarcerated for 18 months for condemning the lynching of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto State over alleged blasphemy, has regained her freedom, reliable sources revealed.
According to an anonymous source, Jatau was released on bail last Friday following interventions by prominent organizations such as the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and the Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria.
Jatau, a mother of five, had been detained since May 2022 on charges of blasphemy for sharing a video condemning the brutal murder of Deborah Samuel, a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto. Deborah was lynched after advising against sharing religious materials on a WhatsApp page.
While the details of the bail conditions and the court granting Jatau bail were not disclosed, the source emphasized the pivotal role played by the Inter-Religious Council in securing her release.
In response to the outcry from the Christian community in Nigeria over Jatau’s prolonged detention, the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria swiftly intervened in the matter.
The source stated, “Following the outcry from the Christian community in Nigeria over the continued detention of Rhoda Jatau in Bauchi Prison, the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria have swiftly intervened in the matter.”
“We are pleased to report that Mrs. Rhoda has been granted bail and subsequently released from detention today. We have high hopes that the case will end in praise. Let’s continue to uphold her in our prayers. The leadership of NIREC played a key role. Praise be to our God,” the source added.
