An advocacy group for women’s rights, Womanifesto, has called for the immediate release of Rhoda Jatau, who was reportedly accused of blasphemy after condemning the public lynching of Deborah Yakubu.
The mother of five has been imprisoned since May 22, 2022, for allegedly sharing a video criticizing the killing of a student in Sokoto State.
Deborah, a 200-level student at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was murdered after advising against sending religious materials on a WhatsApp page.
The suspects, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci, were arrested and arraigned in May 2022.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Monday, Womanifesto’s Executive Director, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, described the continued detention of the 45-year-old mother and a staff member of the Medical Department of Warji Local Government as worrisome.
She revealed that a coalition of over 500 women’s rights organisations, activists, advocates, and practitioners in Nigeria have expressed outrage and disappointment for the unwarranted arrest and prolonged detention of Jatau.
She said, “It is unconscionable that the mob that lynched Deborah Yakubu, recorded the crime, and circulated the video on various social media platforms is allowed to roam the streets of Nigeria free, while a person who condemns their actions is held behind bars with no end in sight.
“It shows the unequal application of the law in Northern Nigeria and further contributes to tensions and distrust between Muslims and Christians living in Nigeria.”
She noted that Jatau’s trial had been deliberately prolonged by baseless adjournments, noting that no fewer than five scheduled court hearings had failed to be held since March 2023.
She added that Jatau had been denied bail despite having no criminal history and not being identified as a flight risk, while her family had to go into hiding due to threats to their lives.
She said, “All these point to a systemic failure of the Nigerian government to protect Deborah Yakubu, pursue justice for her murder, and protect the voices of Christian minorities in northern Nigeria in times of crisis.
“This sets a dangerous precedent and erodes the foundations of a just and democratic society. Condemning public lynching or calling on the government to prosecute offenders should never be a crime, and the Nigerian state should immediately seek to rectify this miscarriage of justice.”
Alleged Blasphemy: CSO Demands Jatau’s Unconditional Release
