adminreporter
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has granted a state pardon to Sunday Jackson, a Christian farmer who spent nearly 11 years on death row for killing a Fulani herdsman during a violent confrontation on his farm. Jackson’s release, announced on December 23, 2025, comes under the governor’s constitutional prerogative of mercy and forms part of a broader Christmas and New Year clemency exercise.
The decision effectively ends one of Nigeria’s most controversial criminal cases in recent history, which had drawn sustained attention from human rights advocates, religious groups, and civil society organizations across the country and beyond.
A Case That Divided the Nation Sunday Jackson was convicted and sentenced to death after a prolonged legal battle that culminated at the Supreme Court, which upheld his conviction for the killing of a herdsman who allegedly attacked him while he was working on his farm in Adamawa State. From the outset, supporters of Jackson insisted that the killing occurred in self-defence, arguing that he was confronted by an armed assailant and acted to protect his life. The case became emblematic of the wider farmer–herder conflict that has plagued many parts of Nigeria for over a decade. Critics of the judgment argued that Jackson’s conviction reflected systemic injustice, particularly against rural farmers who often face violent attacks with little or no protection from security agencies.
Religious leaders and Christian organizations were especially vocal, framing the case as not only a miscarriage of justice but also part of a broader pattern of perceived bias against Christian communities in conflict-prone areas. Human rights groups repeatedly called for clemency, stressing that the circumstances surrounding the killing met the legal and moral thresholds for self-defence. Clemency After Years of Advocacy Governor Fintiri’s decision followed recommendations from the Adamawa State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, a statutory body that reviews cases of convicted inmates for possible pardon or sentence commutation.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, officially confirmed the pardon in a statement, noting that the decision was reached after careful consideration of the facts of the case and Jackson’s conduct during his years in custody. In addition to Jackson’s pardon, Governor Fintiri also granted clemency to two other inmates and commuted the sentences of five others, citing good behavior and evidence of rehabilitation. According to the state government, the exercise was aimed at promoting justice tempered with mercy, especially during the festive season. “The governor acted within the powers granted to him by the Constitution,” Wonosikou said. “This decision reflects compassion, fairness, and a commitment to correcting outcomes that may no longer serve the interest of justice.” International Attention and Rising Pressure Jackson’s case gained renewed international attention in recent weeks amid heightened rhetoric from the United States, including reported threats by former U.S. President Donald Trump over alleged persecution of Christians in parts of Nigeria.
While the Adamawa State Government did not directly link the pardon to any foreign pressure, activists say the global spotlight intensified scrutiny on the case and increased calls for action. Human rights groups argue that the combination of domestic advocacy and international attention made it increasingly difficult for authorities to ignore the growing consensus that Jackson should not die for an act widely believed to be self-defence. “This is a victory for justice, not just for Sunday Jackson, but for countless farmers who live in fear and feel abandoned by the system,” said one civil society advocate involved in the campaign for his release. “It shows that persistence, advocacy, and public engagement can still make a difference.” Reactions and Lingering Questions News of Jackson’s pardon was met with relief and celebration by supporters, many of whom had followed the case for over a decade.
Social media platforms were flooded with messages welcoming his release and calling for broader reforms in how self-defence cases are handled in Nigeria’s criminal justice system. However, the case has also reopened difficult questions about the Supreme Court’s role, the interpretation of self-defence laws, and the wider issue of insecurity in rural communities. Legal analysts note that while a pardon brings freedom, it does not overturn the conviction itself, leaving unresolved concerns about precedent and accountability. As Sunday Jackson steps out of prison after 11 years awaiting execution, his story stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of Nigeria’s unresolved conflicts and judicial complexities. For many, his release is not just the end of a long ordeal for one man, but a renewed call to address the deeper structural issues that allow such cases to persist in the first place.
FROM EASTWESTRESPORTERS: God bless President Trump and America!
If he hadn’t roared against Nigeria for genocidal killings of the Christians and also placed the countries on the list of “Countries of Special Concern”, I can bet that Governor Fintiri would never have thought of pardoning the man who defended himself!
I advise the man who was pardon to relocate as quickly as possible because these devilish sets of people who capitalize on Islam to continue to wreck havoc wherever they set their foot, don’t forget and will never forgive. Unfortunately, they also lacked sense of reflection that should ordinarily teach them that they were the aggressors who invaded another man’s territory with the intention of maiming, raping, killing and stealing! No, they will never realize that because they think they owned your properties.
