Jos, 11 December, 2023 / 3:17 PM
Members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have welcomed the release of Rhoda Jatau Ya'u from Bauchi Prison after 18 months of detention.
Detained in December 2022 for sharing a video denouncing the murder of Deborah Emmanuel, the Economics student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto who was stoned to death and burned by male students at the school after they accused her of blaspheming against Prophet Muhammad, Mrs. Jatau was set free on December 9.
“We are happy to report that Ms. Rhoda has been granted bail and subsequently released from detention today. Praise be to our God!” CAN members, who include representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) say, and add, “We have high hopes that the case will end in praise.”
They call upon the people of God to continue holding Mrs. Jatau in prayers.
In November, five United Nations (UN) Special Procedure mandate holders sent to the government of Nigeria a Letter of Allegation expressing concern about the arrest and detention of Mrs. Jatau.
Her detention, they lamented, “appears to be her mere peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief.”
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