By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The case of Madame Rhoda, a Christian woman from Southern Bauchi allegedly jailed for condemning the mob killing of Deborah Samuel Yakubu, has resurfaced amid renewed public debate across Nigeria.The development follows intensified national conversations triggered by recent remarks attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump, which have reignited discussions on justice, religious freedom, and the rule of law in Nigeria.
Deborah Samuel, a second-year Christian student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, was stoned and burned to death on 12 May 2022 by fellow students who accused her of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad. The incident drew widespread local and international condemnation. More than two years later, her killers have yet to be fully prosecuted, a situation that continues to draw criticism from human rights advocates.According to a statement circulating on social media and shared by supporters of Rhoda’s family, the Bauchi State Government under Governor Bala Mohammed allegedly ordered Rhoda’s arrest after she posted a video condemning Deborah’s lynching. The statement claims she was tried, convicted, and imprisoned on allegations of blasphemy, while the perpetrators of Deborah’s murder “walk free.”
The statement reads in part:
“This is Madame Rhoda, a Christian from Southern Bauchi. She made a video condemning the lynching of Deborah Samuel by her classmates after she was accused of blasphemy in Sokoto State. Till date, none of the killers of Deborah has been brought to justice, but the Government of Bauchi State arrested this woman. She has been tried, convicted, and jailed simply because she spoke against the killing of Deborah.” The statement further argues that Rhoda’s case challenges claims that Sharia law applies only to Muslims, describing her situation as an example of religious and judicial imbalance. It calls on the Federal Government to review her conviction and consider her for a presidential pardon, stating:
“These are the individuals deserving of pardon from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — not drug lords.”
The renewed attention on Rhoda’s case has sparked debate among citizens, religious leaders, and civil rights groups, many of whom have urged the authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding her arrest and ensure justice is served in both her case and Deborah Samuel’s unresolved murder.As public pressure mounts, advocates continue to demand accountability, transparency, and adherence to constitutional rights regardless of faith or region.
