Women groups demand Jatau’s release for condemning religious extremism

Womanifesto, a coalition of over 500 women rights organisations, activists, advocates and practitioners in Nigeria, yesterday, called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and Bauchi State government to, urgently, release Mrs Rhoda Jatau, who has been in detention for 18 months, for condemning the mob that lynched Deborah Yakubu.

At a press conference in Lagos, the co-convener, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, deplored the prolonged detention of the 45-year-old mother of five and staff of Medical Department of Warji Local Council of Bauchi State.

She said: “Mrs Rhoda Jatau was unjustly arrested and incarcerated on May 20, 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.

“It is unconscionable that the mob that lynched Deborah Yakubu, recorded the crime and circulated the video on various social media platforms, is allowed to roam the streets of Nigeria free.”