Adamawa Governor Fintiri Pardons Farmer Sentenced to Death for Killing Herdsman in Self-Defense

On December 23, 2025, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri exercised his constitutional prerogative of mercy to grant a full pardon to Sunday Jackson, a farmer who had been sentenced to death for killing a Fulani herdsman in what many viewed as an act of self-defense. This decision, announced amid Christmas clemency gestures, also extended to two other inmates, Joseph Eugene and Maxwell Ibrahim, whose sentences were commuted 

The case of Sunday Jackson dates back to a tragic incident in 2015 in Kodomti village, Numan Local Government Area. Jackson, then a young student and soon-to-be father from the Dong community in Demsa LGA, was working on his farm when herdsman Buba Ardo Bawuro allegedly allowed his cattle to destroy the crops. A heated altercation followed, during which Bawuro reportedly attacked Jackson with a knife, inflicting multiple stab wounds. In the ensuing struggle, Jackson managed to disarm his assailant and fatally wounded him in self-preservation. Despite Jackson's injuries and his claim of acting in self-defense, he was arrested and charged with culpable homicide.

After a prolonged legal battle, an Adamawa High Court convicted Jackson in 2021, sentencing him to death by hanging. The court reasoned that he could have fled the scene instead of retaliating, a ruling that drew sharp criticism for overlooking the nuances of self-defense under Sections 23 and 24 of the Adamawa Penal Code. Jackson's appeals culminated in the Supreme Court upholding the death sentence on March 7, 2025, intensifying public outcry. By then, he had spent nearly a decade in custody, missing the birth and upbringing of his daughter.

The verdict sparked widespread advocacy. Religious organizations, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), labeled it a "travesty of justice" and petitioned for clemency. Community leaders, traditional rulers, and even the victim's family joined the calls, emphasizing the need for reconciliation in Nigeria's volatile farmer-herdsman conflicts, which have claimed thousands of lives in the Middle Belt region. Internationally, U.S. Congressman Riley Moore urged the Nigerian government to pardon Jackson, framing it as a human rights issue tied to rural security and fair trial concerns.

Governor Fintiri's pardon was based on recommendations from the Adamawa State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, which reviewed cases for good conduct and societal reintegration. Chief Press Secretary Humwashi Wonosikou noted that the move aligned with Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, promoting compassion during the festive season. Supporters celebrated the decision as a victory for equity, allowing Jackson to reunite with his family after years of separation.