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Riley Moore, member of the United States house of representatives, has asked the Nigerian government to pardon Sunday Jackson, a man sentenced to death for killing an attacker in self-defence.
Jackson was reportedly cultivating his farm when a suspected herder, armed with a knife, attempted to attack him.
He reportedly overpowered his aggressor in self-defence, resulting in the herder’s death.
In a ruling in 2021, an Adamawa high court sentenced Jackson to death for the killing, ruling that he had the opportunity to escape rather than stab his attacker.
On March 7, the supreme court upheld the ruling of the high court.
However, during the congressional hearing of allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria on Thursday, Moore cited provisions of the 1999 Constitution that prohibit civilians from bearing arms.
The US lawmaker alleged that authorities routinely “look the other way” as “Fulani militants” openly carry weapons.
“I would urge the Nigerian government to take a look at pardoning Sunday Jackson, who was an individual who was fighting for his own life, defending his life against one of these Fulani militants,” Moore said.
“That Fulani militant lost his life in that struggle, and now that person, Sunday Jackson, is facing the death penalty. Now, where’s the justice in that?
“Where is the justice in that? And all these Fulani militants are breaking Nigerian law.
“Sunday Jackson disarms this person with a knife and protects his own life. He’s going to prison and now faces the death penalty, and Fulani militants are just roaming, bands of them with AK-47s, and that’s no problem.”
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Moore asked the federal government to prioritise security and protection of lives.
