By NATHANIEL SHAIBU and ARMSTRONG BAKAM

Ya’u Jatau, the husband of Rhoda, the Bauchi woman who was detained for 18 months in prison for alleged blasphemy, has expressed joy over the release of his wife.

Saturday PUNCH had earlier reported that Rhoda regained her freedom on Friday after being held in prison custody for over a year for condemning the alleged killing of Samuel Deborah in Sokoto State.

A reliable source who spoke on condition of anonymity said that she was released on bail following interventions by the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and the Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria.

Jatau, a mother of five, had been detained since May 2022 on the grounds of alleged blasphemy for sharing a video condemning the lynching of Deborah.

Deborah, a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was brutally murdered after advising against sending religious materials on a WhatsApp page.

 The source, however, did not reveal the bail conditions which court granted Jatau bail but noted that the inter-religious council had played “a key role” in securing her bail and release.

“Following the outcry from the Christian community in Nigeria over the continued detention of Rhoda Jatau in (a) Bauchi prison, the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria have swiftly intervened in the matter.

“We are pleased to report that Mrs Rhoda has been granted bail and subsequently released from detention today (Friday). We have high hopes that the case will end in praise.

“Let’s continue to remember her in our prayers. The leadership of NIREC played a key role. Praise be to our God,” he added.

Speaking with our correspondent on Saturday morning, Ya’u said he could not describe the level of joy he felt over the release of his wife.

He said, “I feel very happy that my wife has been released and is back home. I cannot thank God enough.

“I want to thank everyone who made this happen. That is all I can say at the moment.”

Originally published at Punch