By Akinwale Kasali
Rhoda Jatau, the Woman who protested against the gruesome murder of Deborah Samuel, a 200-level student of Home Economics at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, has been incarcerated – for months, and still counting.
Samuel was murdered by Islamic extremists and set ablaze after she advised her classmates against posting religious materials on their WhatsApp page.
Though, the police announced the arrest of two suspects; Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci, in connection to Deborah’s murder, and they were arraigned on May 16, 2022, at the Sokoto Chief Magistrate Court for their alleged participation in the crime, nothing has been heard of the case since then.
The Sokoto State Police Command had disclosed that those arrested at the scene of the incident, while dispersing the mob, had been charged to court and the court remanded them in prison.
But it was alleged that the suspects have been released, prompting Jatau to lead a protest against the barbaric killing of the young lady who is of the Christian faith.
She was detained in Bauchi State leading to the hashtag #FreeRhoda on the X platform.
However, Jatau, a mother of five has been in detention since 2022.
She was charged with “inciting public disturbance, contempt of religious creed and cyber-stalking” under the Penal Code and the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Nigerians on social media X, (formerly Twitter) have continued to slam Jatau’s continued detention.
Taking to social media Tuesday, Modupe Odele with the X handle @Mochievous tweeted, “Rhoda Ya’u Jatau is a Christian from Bauchi State who has spent over 18 months in jail for sharing a video condemning the lynching of university student Deborah Emmanuel. She was accused of blasphemy…”
Another Nigerian, @Uncle_Onos, expressed concern saying, “She has so far spent over 18 months languishing in Police detention. This is the height of wickedness and cruelty. Meanwhile, no word has been of how the killers of Deborah were treated by the Police. They are probably walking the streets freely. RHODA JATAU MUST BE FREED!!!”
Also, popular skit maker, Mr Macaroni decried the continuous detention by tweeting, “Rhoda Jatau is a Christian. A Mother of 5. She has spent over 18 months and counting in a Prison in Bauchi for condemning the gruesome and barbaric murder of Deborah; a fellow Christian. This is a crime against humanity and this madness must come to an end! FREE RHODA JATAU!!!”
Reacting to one of the several tweets calling for the release of Jatau, another netizen with the handle @king_Bello7 decried the failure of the police to apprehend the murders of Deborah but “Deborah’s killers are walking free”
A music executive, @ChubieUjah questioned if the constitution of the nation has been swapped for Sharia law without the knowledge of Nigerians. He posted, “I don’t understand how this is happening in a civilised society that claims to be a secular state. What are they not telling us? Has our constitution been swapped for Sharia law without our knowledge?” while @ProsperLuis2 expressed that “Christians are suffering in northern Nigeria.”
Another netizen @addel_cares blamed the Christian community for the detention of Jatau.
He tweeted, “Something would happen in Nigeria, and you would ask yourself, do we even have Christian leaders in Nigeria? I don’t even blame them, but the gullible Nigerians who see them as God, and when it’s time for them to stand up, they won’t. Arrest a Muslim and put him or her in prison and see if everyone would rest.” Another X user named @GoodPikins said, “Please release the innocent woman.”
@Real_Ekaf called for justice, adding that “Enough is Enough” on the detention of Jatau and @Cutefabulous02 added, “The injustice against Christians in the north is uncalled for. I wish the secularity of the Nigerian state is applicable to all the states of the federation. The day we would understand as people that humanity begot religion may mark the day of our liberation. #FreeRhoda”
