Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has granted a Christmas pardon to Sunday Jackson, a farmer who was controversially sentenced to death for killing a herder during a violent confrontation on his farmland.
Jackson’s case, which drew widespread criticism from human rights advocates and farming communities, involved an incident in which he reportedly acted in self-defence after being attacked while working on his farm. Despite claims that he was protecting his life and livelihood, Jackson was convicted and sentenced to death, a judgment many critics described as excessive and unjust.
Following his conviction, Jackson was transferred to the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja, where he remained incarcerated while advocacy groups continued to campaign for his release. Over the years, the case became a rallying point in debates over farmers’ rights, self-defence, and the broader security challenges facing rural communities.
On Tuesday, Governor Fintiri exercised his constitutional prerogative of mercy, granting Jackson a full pardon as part of the state’s Christmas and New Year celebrations. The decision effectively brings an end to a case that many viewed as a miscarriage of justice.
The governor explained that the pardon followed recommendations from the Adamawa State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy and was informed by Jackson’s conduct while in custody.
“In the exercise of my prerogative of mercy as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and in line with the recommendations of the Adamawa State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, I have granted pardon to three persons and approved the remission of the remaining sentences of five others who have demonstrated good conduct over the years,” Governor Fintiri said.
Although the official statement did not revisit the details of Jackson’s case, rights activists and community leaders insist that the pardon represents a tacit admission that the original sentence was flawed. Many argue that Jackson should never have been condemned to death for defending himself against an attack.
News of the pardon was met with relief and celebration across Adamawa State, particularly among rural farmers who had long feared that defending themselves against violent attacks could expose them to severe legal consequences.
While two other inmates were also pardoned and five others had their sentences remitted, Jackson’s release dominated public discourse, symbolising hope for justice reform and renewed attention to the protection of vulnerable farming communities.
Observers say the decision may help rebuild confidence in the justice system and encourage a more balanced consideration of self-defence claims in cases arising from farmer-herder conflicts.
