U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore has welcomed the pardon of Sunday Jackson, a Christian farmer who spent over a decade on death row after killing a Fulani herdsman in self-defence.
Moore, who has been advocating for Jackson’s release both publicly and privately, said: “Sunday Jackson is free! After more than a decade in prison serving a death sentence for defending himself, Sunday Jackson has been pardoned.”
The pardon, issued by Governor Ahmad Fintiri, also covered seven other prisoners. Moore said the release shows that the concerns of President Donald Trump and the U.S. government are being “taken seriously by the Nigerian government.” He called on federal and state authorities to ensure Jackson’s safety during and after his release.
Discussions are reportedly ongoing to establish a “strategic security framework” between Nigeria and the U.S. to address security challenges.
Sunday Jackson, 29, was attacked in 2015 by a herdsman whose cattle grazed on his farmland in Adamawa State. Jackson was stabbed twice and, in self-defence, killed the assailant.
Convicted of manslaughter, Jackson’s death sentence was upheld by Nigeria’s Supreme Court but drew criticism from civil society groups. His pardon marks the end of a high-profile legal and diplomatic case.