Comedian Mr. Macaroni has joined others to condemn Mrs. Rhoda Jatau, who was arrested and arraigned before a Sharia Court in Bauchi State after she protested the killing of Deborah Yakubu, by Muslim students in Sokoto State last year.
Jatau, a 45-year-old Christian mother of five, was, on 20th May 2022, arrested and incarcerated for forwarding a WhatsApp message condemning the murder of Deborah Yakubu.
Deborah, a second-year Christian student of Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto, was killed by a mob of Muslims, who accused her of blasphemy against Islam.
On 27th November 2023, the High Court in Bauchi State rejected an application for a “no-case submission” by Rhoda’s Lawyers, and denied bail to the accused woman.
Mr. Macaroni took to Twitter or X in a series of tweets, writing:
“Deborah a Nigerian was lynched to death… Rhoda, another Nigerian condemned the killing.
“Instead of bringing the murderers of Deborah to justice, security agents arrested Rhoda and left her to languish in Prison for over 500 days and counting! Unbelievable!!! #FreeRhodaJatauNOW
“Rhoda Jatau is a Christian. A Mother of 5. She has spent over 18 months and counting in a Prison in Bauchi for condemning the gruesome and barbaric murder of Deborah; a fellow Christian. This is crime against humanity and this madness must come to an end!
“FREE RHODA JATAU!!!
“I join my voice with millions of Nigerians to demand the release of Rhoda Jatau!!!!
“It is inhumane that Rhoda is being denied her freedom while Deborah is yet to get justice and her killers are roaming freely!
“#FreeRhodaJatau.
“Deborah a Nigerian was lynched to death… Rhoda, another Nigerian condemned the killing.
“Instead of bringing the murderers of Deborah to justice, security agents arrested Rhoda and left her to languish in Prison for over 500 days and counting! Unbelievable!!! #FreeRhodaJatauNOW.”
Tweeting on the matter, the Christian Solidarity International (CSI) @CSI_humanrights wrote:
“A huge blow to #RhodaJatau’s supporters and defense team as Bauchi High Court rejects her bid to have the #blasphemy charges against her thrown out.
“CSI will continue to press for her release.”
NaijaNative @NaijaNative tweeted:
“We were told that these shariah laws will only apply to Muslims living in those states. Why should a non Muslim be charged with a shariah law in a conventional High Court? Are we operating two legal systems or what? Evil cult masquerading as a religion.”
Haywhy09 @haywhyy09 tweeted:
“The Nigerian government couldn’t track down the killers of Deborah and persecute them but they tracked someone who criticized the death of Deborah.
“The injustice in this nation is quite serious. 🤦♂️”
Liberty_Champion @lyfatubely tweeted:
“Big joke indeed. Office of the first lady and Minister of women affairs where u dey now? This is worthy of your attention.”
AKA💎 @Baby_Kawhi tweeted:
“She’s accused of blasphemy for sharing videos condemning the lynching of Deborah Yakubu by a Muslim mob
“This is beyond crazy. Condemning the lynching of an innocent girl to death is “blasphemy”?
“What are all the Christian bodies in Nigeria doing about this travesty?”
