By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
As US President Donald Trump’s religious freedom drive grips nationwide consciousness in Nigeria, the much-criticized jailing of a Christian woman, identified as Madame Rhoda, who hails from Southern Bauchi, North-East Nigeria, for making a video condemning the lynching of Deborah Samuel Yakubu, has re-echoed.
Yakubu, a second-year female Christian student of College of Education, Sokoto, was on 12 May, 2022 stoned to death by a mob comprising her Muslim classmates and outsiders, after being accused of blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
The gruesome killing, which went viral on social media, sparked nationwide outrage and condemnation of the application of Muslim regulations to a non-Muslim.
A statement shared by supporters of members of Madame Rhoda’s family, which was circulated on social media, recalled that Rhoda was arrested, tried and jailed.
The statement, accompanied by a picture of the lady, read: “This is Madame Rhoda, a Christian from Southern Bauchi (Nigeria), she made a video condemning the lynching of Deborah Samuel by her classmates as she was accused of blasphemy in a college in Sokoto state against Prophet Mohammed.
“Till date, none of the killers of Deborah has been brought to justice, but the Government of Bauchi State under the leadership of Gov Bala Mohammed arrested this woman.
“She has been tried, convicted and jailed for blasphemy simply because she spoke against the lynching of Deborah.
“Next time, if anyone tells you that Sharia law is only for Muslim, show them this post.
“This are (sic) the kind (sic) of individuals who deserve a presidential pardon from the administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu not drug lords.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: Rhoda.
