Mrs. Rhoda Jatau was unjustly arrested and incarcerated on the 20th of May 2022 for forwarding a WhatsApp message that condemned the heinous murder of Deborah Yakubu. Mrs Jatau now faces baseless charges of inciting public disturbance and insulting religious creed. 

Mrs Rhoda Jatau is a 45-year-old Nigerian citizen, Christian, wife and mother of five (5) and a staff of the Medical Department of Warji Local Government.

It is unconscionable that the mob that lynched Deborah Yakubu, recorded the crime and circulated the video on various social media platforms are allowed to roam the streets of Nigeria free, while a person who condemns their actions is arrested and charged. 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. 

Rhoda’s trial has also been marred with several irregularities, including baseless adjournments and postponements - at least five scheduled court hearings have failed to occur since March 2023. On November 27, 2023, the High Court in Bauchi State rejected an application for a “no-case submission” by Rhoda’s Lawyers. Her husband and five children have had to go into hiding due to threats on their lives. All these point to a systemic failure of the Nigerian government to protect Deborah Yakubu or pursue justice for her murder and protect the voices of Christian minorities in northern Nigeria in times of crisis.

Due to prompt advocacy and sustained pressure from concerned Civil Society Groups and Active Citizens, Mrs Jatau was released on bail after 19 long months of incarceration on the 8th of December, 2023. However the charges against her still remain and she is still being made to answer to the case in court.

Sections 38 and 39 of the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution guarantee freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and expression. Also, the Government of Nigeria has obligations under various international human rights law instruments and treaties we are signed up to. Nigeria is a signatory of the African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ICCPR. Nigeria is, therefore, in violation of Art. 9 of the African Charter and Art. 19 of the ICCPR. General Comment 34 of the Human Rights Committee on Art. 19 notes that Art. 19 ‘embraces even expressions that may be regarded as deeply offensive.’ The criminalisation of peaceful expression - even if offensive - jeopardises the Right to Freedom of Expression.

The continued detention of Mrs Jatau not only infringes upon her fundamental rights but also sends a chilling message to others – especially Christians – who express dissent or speak out against injustice, especially those related to mob actions suffered at the hands of Muslim men. 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.

In light of the above, we urgently call on the Nigerian government to;

1. Intervene in Rhoda Jatau’s case, drop all charges against her and recognise her right to freedom of expression and religion. 

2. Provide adequate resources to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the murder of Deborah Samuel, prosecuting all the perpetrators for their heinous actions.

3. Hold the commissioner of police and the ministry of justice in Sokoto state accountable for pursuing justice on behalf of the state and the family of Deborah Yakubu.

4. Reassess and reform laws that are misused to stifle freedom of expression and contribute to the persecution of innocent individuals. 

5. Strengthen efforts to combat gender-based violence, ensuring that perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice and victims receive the support they need.

6. Foster educational programs and community outreach initiatives to raise religious and cultural tolerance awareness. 

We advocate for a world where everyone can live free from fear and oppression. We must create a united front against the use of religion to carry out violence and oppress innocent citizens.  

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