A Nigerian mother of five who was acquitted of blasphemy charges has received an award for her dedication towards religious freedom.
Christian Rhoda Jatau has received the First Step Forum Shahbaz Bhatti Freedom Award in Geneva after being nominated by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) in recognition of her courage before, during and after detention.
Jatau was arrested in Bauchi State in May 2022 after allegedly sharing a video condemning the murder of Christian Deborah Yakubu, who was accused of blasphemy and stoned to death by a mob of Muslim students before being lynched.
The mother spent 19 months in prison on charges of blasphemy before she was acquitted and released in December 2024.
Jatau spoke about the pain of being separated from her family for more than a year and a half.
Jatau said: “My experience in prison was not an easy one. For over a year I did not see my children. I could only hear about them”.
Sean Nelson, senior counsel for global religious freedom at ADF, called for an end to blasphemy laws around the world, and for an end to Christian persecution in Nigeria.
“Rhoda’s story is one of courage”, Nelson said. “Despite seemingly hopeless circumstances, her time in prison did not break her faith or her resolve.
“Today, her story reminds the world that no one should be jailed for their religion or peaceful expression.
“We are honored to have nominated her, and we join her in calling for an end to blasphemy laws and persecution in Nigeria and around the world”.
Attending the ceremony was Nazila Ghanea, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.
Jatau and Yakubu’s stories of Christian persecution are two of many stories of persecution for holding faith.
A senior advisor to the Nigerian President rejected claims that Christians were being targeted in violence in comments to Premier Christian News this March.
However, a US House of Representatives report from February described Nigeria as the most dangerous place in the world to practice the Christian faith.
Lydia Nwankwo, a Christian volunteer with the Nigerian Red Cross, was shot dead at the start of October alongside her sister Victoria.
And in June, 28 Christians were targeted and killed by Fulani herdsmen, with attackers targeting and hunting down Christians, including the pastor of the Church of Christ in Nations, Rev Markus Nyam.
Persecution watchdog Open Doors ranks Nigeria seventh on their World Watch List and reported that nearly 3,500 Christians were killed in Nigeria last year.
More than 7 in 10 Christians killed for their faith in 2025 across the world were killed in Nigeria.
Rapper Nicki Minaj recently spoke out about the oppression of Christians in Nigeria, calling on celebrities and influencers to join her call to highlight Christian persecution in the country.