Rhoda Jatau, the Nigerian Christian woman who spoke out against the horrific murder of Deborah Samuel, has finally walked out of prison after 18 months of incarceration.
On May 12, 2022, Deborah Samuel Yakubu, a second-year Christian college student, was killed by a mob of Muslim students in Sokoto, Nigeria, after being accused of blasphemy against Islam.
Deborah was forcibly taken from the security room she was hidden in at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto.
A cab had been waiting outside the school to escort her to safety at the police station; however, within the college premises, a Muslim student mob stoned her before dumping tires on her and burning her body beyond recognition.
According to witnesses, security forces fired tear gas and warning shots but failed to disperse the mob.
A student who had witnessed the lynching recounted that Deborah’s last words were “What do you hope to achieve with this?”, and that Christian students fled the premises during the lynching. A video of the murder circulated on social media.
Jatau, a mother-of-five from Bauchi State, was arrested in that same month for sharing a video that denounced the barbaric lynching of Deborah.
Jatau’s arrest sparked outrage and protests from her family, friends, colleagues, and civil society organizations across the country, who demanded her immediate release and justice for Deborah.
They argued that Jatau had not committed any crime, but rather exercised her right to freedom of expression and conscience.
Their efforts paid off on Friday, when a Bauchi State High Court, presided by Justice Fatima Jibrin, granted Jatau bail after hearing the application filed by her lawyer, Barr. Danboyi. The court had previously denied her bail, citing the sensitivity of the case.
According to reports, Jatau’s release was also made possible by an executive order issued by Governor Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, who intervened in the matter after several consultations and discussions with various stakeholders.
A human rights activist confirmed that Jatau was finally free and reunited with her family. He praised Jatau for her courage and resilience, and called for an end to the culture of intolerance and violence that claimed Deborah’s life.
