The Nigerian Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentence of Sunday Jackson has sparked widespread outrage, with many questioning the judiciary’s stance on self-defense. The ruling has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates and legal experts, especially given the unchecked violence by armed herdsmen against innocent farmers, which has often gone unpunished.
Over the years, farmers and villagers across Nigeria have suffered repeated deadly attacks by armed herdsmen, with little to no justice for the victims. Several cases highlight this troubling pattern:
- On January 25, 2024, The Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, located in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, has reported that between January and December 2023, its communities faced no fewer than 119 attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen. According to a report submitted to Aid to the Church in Need, these assaults led to the deaths of over 400 individuals, while more than 100 others were wounded, raped, or kidnapped.
- On November 25, 2024, four farmers were murdered within 24 hours in Enugu State by suspected herders.
- On April 5, 2024, 21 villagers were slaughtered in Kogi State during a reprisal attack by Fulani herdsmen.
- On March 24, 2024, armed herders killed six residents in Kadarko, Nasarawa State—a common occurrence in the region.
- On February 6, 2025, At least six people were killed following attacks by suspected herdsmen in the Okpamaju community of Okete Ward and the Asa settlement of Ewulo Ward, both in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. The incident, which occurred on February 6, 2025, has sparked fear and tension among residents. According to local sources, the assailants stormed the communities, unleashing violence that led to multiple fatalities.
Despite these attacks, no major convictions have been secured against the perpetrators, raising concerns about double standards in the Nigerian justice system. The Supreme Court’s ruling against Sunday Jackson has now deepened fears that victims are being punished for defending themselves, while attackers operate with impunity.
Sunday Jackson, a former student turned farmer, was working on his farm in Kodum Forest, Numan Local Government Area, Adamawa State, when he was attacked by a herdsman, Buba Bauru. According to Jackson, Bauru and his cattle had strayed into his farm, destroying his crops. When Jackson confronted him, the herdsman allegedly stabbed him multiple times.
In an act of self-defense, Jackson wrestled the knife from his attacker and fatally stabbed him in the neck. He was later arrested and charged with murder, despite maintaining that his actions were to protect his own life.
A court in Yola sentenced him to death in 2021, and in March 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling, leaving Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State as his only hope for clemency.
Jackson’s legal team, including U.S.-based human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe and American activist Dr. William Terrence Delvin, have strongly condemned the ruling.
Emmanuel Ogebe called the ruling a miscarriage of justice, stating:
“Nigerians already have to provide their own security, electricity, and infrastructure. Now, they can’t even defend themselves without being sentenced to death.”
He also highlighted serious legal flaws in the case, including a 167-day delay in delivering judgment—far exceeding the 90-day constitutional limit.
Dr. William Terrence Delvin questioned why the Supreme Court failed to recognize Jackson’s right to self-defense, stating:
“Sunday Jackson, by any reasonable estimation, is innocent. This man was simply defending himself. How can the Supreme Court fail to see that?”
The legal team also pointed out that herdsmen who have murdered thousands of innocent farmers have not faced similar death sentences, exposing bias in the Nigerian judicial system.
With herdsmen attacks claiming thousands of lives over the years, many Nigerians believe that justice is being applied selectively. The Supreme Court’s ruling raises serious concerns:
- Why are herdsmen who massacre innocent people not sentenced to death, yet a farmer defending his life is?
- Is the legal system protecting killers while punishing their victims?
- Are farmers expected to die without resisting their attackers?
Many Nigerians and human rights organizations are now calling on Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to grant clemency to Jackson.
Jackson’s legal team has vowed to pursue all possible legal remedies, including appealing to international human rights bodies. Activists warn that if the ruling stands, it could discourage other farmers from defending themselves against armed attackers, worsening the already dire security situation in rural Nigeria.The fate of Sunday Jackson now lies in the hands of the state governor, whose decision could set a precedent—either reinforcing the right to self-defense or sending a chilling message that victims must not fight back, even at the cost of their own lives.
