Governor Bala Mohammed has been called upon to release unconditionally Rhoda Jatau from indefinite detention

Governor Bala Mohammed has been called upon to release unconditionally Rhoda Jatau from indefinite detention

By Bodunrin Kayode

The call was made by a conglomerate of civil society within the middle belt region of Nigeria for the release of Rhoda Jatau, whom they described as a prisoner of conscience and human rights activist who has been detained without trial since may 2022.

Her ordeal started when she was said to have forwarded a whatsapp message condemning the killing of a student Deborah Yakubu in a College in Sokoto where she was studying last year.

Deborah Yakubu was stoned to death by irate students who chased her to her hideout on campus tried her in their own way and took the law into their hands by stoning her to death.

On the strength of what she forwarded condemning the killing of the young lady, she was accused of inciting blasphemy against the Muslim prophet Muhammed.

Since the incident Rhoda Jatau who was equally rescued from a fanatic mob had been detained in the Bauchi correctional centre opposite Fadar sarkin.

She is charged with intentional breach of the peace in the Warji community on may 20, 2022, which led to the warji crisis in Bauchi state last year.

The civil society who want the lady released unconditionally claimed that the ” governor directed her continued detention on discretionary powers, abuse of power and abuse of office.”

The incident actually happened as a result of the clash between Muslims and Christians in Warji council area which is predominantly Christian dominated.

Trouble started for madam Jatau when she was identified her as the trouble maker who sparked the crisis after she was rescued by security from the mob and they took her to court and then to prison where she has been since last year.

“The Governor gave directives for her to remain in prison having insisted that she was a trouble maker because she is defending her right to association since early last year. She was charged with disturbance of public peace and was dragged to court then sent to prison. Rhoda Jatau was also charged for blasphemy.

The summary of Jatau’s charges include “inciting public disturbance; exciting contempt of religious creed; and cyber stalking” under Sections 114, 210 of the Penal Code Law and Section 24 subsection 1b(i) of Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act 2015 Laws.”

Governor Bala Mohammed has been called upon to release unconditionally Rhoda Jatau from indefinite detention