A Nigerian farmer, Sunday Jackson, who spent more than a decade on death row after killing an alleged attacker in what supporters describe as self-defence, has been pardoned, following sustained advocacy and diplomatic pressure from the United States.
The development was announced on X (formerly Twitter) by U.S. Congressman Riley Moore, who said Jackson had been freed after years of imprisonment. “Sunday Jackson is free,” Moore wrote, describing the pardon as the end of a prolonged legal ordeal for the farmer.
According to Moore, Jackson, a Christian farmer, was attacked on his farm by an armed assailant identified by supporters as an Islamic extremist. Moore said Jackson fought back during the attack, resulting in the death of the assailant, an act that later led to his arrest, prosecution, and death sentence under Nigerian law.
“After more than a decade in prison serving a death sentence for defending himself, Sunday Jackson has been pardoned,” Moore stated. He added that he had advocated for Jackson’s release both publicly and through private engagements with Nigerian authorities, including during a recent U.S. Congressional delegation visit to Nigeria.
Jackson’s case has drawn attention from international religious freedom advocates, who argue that farmers in parts of Nigeria, particularly in regions affected by communal violence and insurgency, often face deadly attacks and limited access to fair legal protections. Human rights groups have long raised concerns about protracted pre-trial detentions, the application of the death penalty, and the treatment of defendants who claim self-defence in violent rural conflicts.
Moore framed the pardon as a humanitarian and faith-based victory, saying Jackson would now be able to reunite with his family. “Our Lord came to set the captives free, and now Sunday will be able to celebrate Christmas with his family,” he wrote.
Nigerian authorities have not yet issued a detailed public statement outlining the legal basis for the pardon. However, the case is expected to further fuel debate about the criminal justice system, religious violence, and the use of capital punishment in Nigeria.
