The Gongola Peoples Forum (GPF) in Adamawa State has made an urgent appeal to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, requesting clemency for Sunday Jackson, a Nigerian farmer sentenced to death despite his claims of acting in self-defense during a fatal altercation with a nomadic herdsman.
Jackson, who has already spent 10 years in prison, was convicted of murder after the court ruled that he should have fled rather than using the knife he wrested from his attacker.
The case has sparked a wider debate about justice, self-defense laws, and the rights of farmers in Nigeria’s conflict-prone regions.
Human rights groups, community leaders, and others have weighed in on the issue. The GPF believes Jackson was unfairly treated by the justice system. They assert that Jackson was unarmed and attacked first, sustaining injuries before defending himself, and that his family has been deeply affected by his decade-long incarceration.
The Supreme Court’s ruling was divided, with dissenting judges, further fueling calls for action. At a press briefing, Markus Bunduri, President of the GPF, emphasized that with all legal avenues exhausted, Jackson’s only remaining hope lies in Governor Fintiri exercising his constitutional power to grant clemency.
“Justice should not be blind to fairness,” the GPF is urging the governor to spare Jackson’s life and prevent what we call a “travesty of justice.”
The case highlights the increasing violence between farmers and herders in Nigeria, a crisis that has led to thousands of deaths over the years.
Advocates argue that failing to grant Jackson clemency could set a dangerous precedent for how self-defense cases are judged in the country.
‘‘The world is watching as Governor Fintiri decides whether to intervene and save Jackson from the hangman’s noose”. Bunduri added.
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