A US member of the House of Representatives, Riley Moore, has publicly called on the Nigerian federal government to grant clemency to Sunday Jackson, a farmer sentenced to death after killing an attacker in what he claims was self-defense. The plea was made during a US House of Representatives hearing examining President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations.
The incident reportedly occurred when Jackson was attacked while tending to his farm. Despite asserting that he acted in self-defense, Jackson was convicted of murder by an Adamawa State High Court, and the judgment was later upheld by the Supreme Court. His sentencing has ignited widespread discussion across Nigeria regarding self-defense laws, rural insecurity, and the broader implications of the justice system on ordinary citizens defending themselves against violent intrusions. Domestically, several religious and civil society organizations have also appealed for mercy on Jackson’s behalf. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria have publicly urged Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to intervene and grant clemency. Their appeals highlight a growing concern about the fairness and proportionality of legal outcomes in cases where individuals are defending their lives under threat. In addition to institutional calls for leniency, the family of the deceased attacker has reportedly forgiven Jackson, further emphasizing that justice tempered with mercy could resolve the situation more equitably. This act of forgiveness has strengthened the case for a pardon, drawing attention to the humanitarian and ethical considerations surrounding the sentence. Jackson’s case has sparked intense national and international debate over the application of self-defense laws, the effectiveness of the justice system in rural areas, and the broader security challenges faced by farmers and civilians in regions affected by militant attacks. With local and global eyes now on the case, the Nigerian government’s response—particularly whether the Adamawa State Government will exercise its power to pardon Jackson—remains highly anticipated and could set a significant precedent for similar cases in the future.