Riley Moore, a federal legislator from the United States, has urged the Nigerian government to free Sunday Jackson, a Nigerian national who killed an armed herdsman who attacked him on his farm and was given a death by hanging sentence.
In an interview with Fox News, Moore stated that recent talks between the U.S. government and a Nigerian delegation headed by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu were “productive,” with a focus on the problem of instability in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
“The meeting with the Nigerian delegation was productive, and it sounded like they’re open to partnering with the United States to stop these killings. I think we did make some progress,” he said.
Moore emphasized that releasing Jackson and collaborating with the United States to stop the actions of armed groups in the area should be among Nigeria’s primary priorities.
“There’s a lot they can do, and one of the first steps is releasing Sunday Jackson, and another one is working with us to disarm these militants in the Middle Belt—the Fulani Islamic radicals that are there,” he added.
Jackson was a 29-year-old farmer and student from the Dong village in Adamawa State’s Demsa LGA in 2015.
Herdsman Buba Ardo Bawuro allegedly drove his cattle onto his land to graze on his crops as he was working on his farm in Kodomti, Numan LGA. The herdsman allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Jackson twice during the ensuing altercation.
Jackson was wounded, yet he was still able to disarm and stab his assailant. Later, the herdsman’s injuries claimed his life.
Jackson was taken into custody and charged with culpable homicide, which is punishable by death under Section 211 of the penal code of northern Nigeria. He acknowledged that the herdsman was stabbed to death during his trial before the Yola High Court, but he insisted that his actions were only self-defense.
But in February 2021, trial judge Fatima Ahmed Tafida found that Jackson’s confession was enough to condemn him and sentenced him to death by hanging, stating that he could have escaped rather than taking revenge.
Jackson’s sole chance was a state pardon from the governor of Adamawa State after the decision withstood all challenges, including the Supreme Court.
Human rights activists and lawyers have criticized the sentence, claiming that penalizing a man for defending himself creates a risky precedent.
During the interview, Moore also denounced the recent kidnappings of teachers and schoolgirls in northern Nigeria and urged authorities to take immediate action against armed groups that are intimidating rural populations.
He insisted that disarming “the radical Muslim Fulani militants terrorising the Middle Belt” should be the government’s top priority because the region’s insecurity is getting worse and urgent action is needed.
