A Nigerian farmer who spent over a decade on death row for killing a herder during an attack on his farm has been granted a full pardon by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
Sunday Jackson’s release on Tuesday ended a case that had sparked outrage among human rights activists and drawn international attention from U.S. lawmakers concerned about religious persecution in Nigeria. Jackson was convicted and sentenced to death following a violent confrontation in which he was reportedly attacked by a herder on his farmland. Despite his claims of self-defense, he was transferred to Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja, where his case became what critics called a symbol of farmers being criminalized for defending themselves.
Governor Fintiri exercised his constitutional prerogative of mercy as part of Christmas and New Year celebrations, following recommendations from the Adamawa State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy. “In the exercise of my prerogative of mercy as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have granted pardon to three persons and directed the remission of the remainder of the sentences of five others who have served various jail terms and have significantly demonstrated good conduct over the years,” Fintiri said.
The decision brought immediate relief across Adamawa, particularly among rural farming communities who viewed Jackson’s conviction as a warning that self-defense could prove fatal.
U.S. Lawmaker Welcomes Release
U.S. Representative Riley M. Moore hailed the pardon as a major step forward for religious freedom and U.S.-Nigeria relations. “Sunday Jackson is free! After more than a decade in prison serving a death sentence for defending himself, Sunday Jackson has been pardoned,” Moore said in a statement Wednesday.
The Republican congressman had spent months advocating for Jackson’s release through congressional hearings, media interviews, and diplomatic meetings, including during a recent congressional delegation visit to Nigeria. Moore described Jackson as a Christian farmer attacked by an Islamic radical, framing the case within broader concerns about religious persecution in Nigeria. He credited the pardon to improving cooperation between Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s government and the United States.
“Sunday Jackson’s release is a positive development in the relationship between the Nigerian government and the United States,” Moore said. “It demonstrates a willingness by President Bola Tinubu and his government to work in coordination and cooperation with the United States to address the persecution of Christians.”
While celebrating the release, Moore urged Nigerian authorities to ensure Jackson’s safety following his freedom. “The Nigerian government at the federal and state level must ensure Sunday’s safety during and following his release,” he said. Moore also emphasized the religious significance of the timing: “Our Lord came to set the captives free, and now Sunday will be able to celebrate Christmas with his family. Thanks be to God.”
Jackson’s case has become emblematic for advocates who argue that Christians in parts of Nigeria face disproportionate violence and legal consequences amid ongoing clashes between farmers and armed groups. While government officials avoided revisiting the facts of the case in their statements, rights advocates maintain the pardon amounts to a quiet acknowledgment that Jackson should never have been sentenced to death.
Human rights groups say the case underscores the need for broader reforms to Nigeria’s justice and security systems, even as they celebrate Jackson’s freedom. Two other inmates received pardons alongside Jackson, while five others had their sentences fully remitted, but it was the farmer’s release that dominated conversations across Adamawa State.
