JUST IN: After 18 month in detention, Rhoda Jatau released from custody

Rhoda Jatau, a Bauchi woman who slammed the alleged assassination of Samuel Deborah in Sokoto State, has been released after serving 18 months in detention, Platinum Times has learned.

According to a trustworthy source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Jatau was released on bail on Friday as a result of interventions by the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria.

Platinum Times reports that, Jatau, a mother of five, has been detained on blasphemy charges since May 2022 for uploading a video protesting the lynching of a student, Deborah.

Deborah, a 200-level student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, was brutally murdered after instructing others on a WhatsApp page not to transmit religious materials.

The source did not identify Jatau’s bail conditions or which court granted her bail, but did say the Inter-Religious Council played “a key role” in getting her bail and release.

“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”, he told our correspondent.