Sunday Jackson: Fintiri Pardons Farmer Sentenced To Death For Killing Herder In ‘Self-defence’
Sunday Jackson, the Adamawa farmer who was sentenced to death for allegedly killing a Fulani herder in self defence in his farm was taken off death row on Tuesday by Governor Ahmadu Fintri.
Jackson was arraigned in court on one-count charge of culpable homicide, punishable with death, contrary to Section 221 (a) of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State over alleged killing of Alh. Buba Bawura, a herder in his farm on 27th of January, 2025.
Jackson had killed Bawura in Kodomti Village of Numan LGA of Adamawa State after he disarmed him. He claimed that Bawura had attacked after he couldn’t get some people he was pursuing for killing his cattle with a dagger.
But Jackson said he was able to wrestle the herder, collected his dagger and used it to kill him in self defence.
Jackson said “He attacked me in frustration and wanted to stab me with a dagger, then we engaged in a wrestling encounter. I succeeded in seizing the dagger from him, which I used to stab him thrice in his throat. When the deceased collapsed and was rolling down in pool of his blood, I took heels and escaped.”
During his trial, Jackson had claimed he killed the herder in self-defence, but he was found guilty at the trial court, the court of appeal and the Supreme
However, there have been sustained national and international pressure to free Jackson from death row as many believed that he was justified in killing the herder in self-defence.
U.S. Congressman Riley Moore had cited Jackson’s case as example of persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
The sustained pressure was believed to have contributed to the pardon granted Jackson by the Adamawa State Governor.
Fintiri also granted pardon to Joseph Eugene and Maxwell Ibrahim who are also on death row like Jackson at Medium Security Custodial Centres in Yola and Kaduna, respectively.
“This pardon celebrates Christmas and New Year,” Humwashi Wonosikou, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fintri said while announcing the pardon in a statement on Tuesday
“Additionally, the sentences of Joshua James Audo, Adamu Ibrahim, Mohammed Abubakar, Ibrahim Usman, and Saidu Abubakar have been completely remitted, all serving in Numan and Jada.
“Governor Fintiri cited the inmates’ significant behavioral improvements in his constitutional prerogative of mercy, as recommended by the Adamawa State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy,” Wonosikou added.
