A youth group in Adamawa State has appealed to Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to grant clemency to Sunday Jackson, a farmer sentenced to death for killing a Fulani herdsman during a fight.
The Pene da Bwatiye Youth Wing, in collaboration with its national body, described the Supreme Court’s decision upholding Jackson’s death sentence as a miscarriage of justice.
The incident, which occurred in 2015 in Demsa Local Government Area, reportedly involved a confrontation between Jackson and the herdsman after cattle destroyed the farmer’s crops. Reports indicate that the herdsman attacked Jackson with a knife, and in the ensuing struggle, Jackson overpowered him, resulting in his death.
Despite claiming self-defense, Jackson was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by hanging, a verdict affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Dr. Pwano Jauro, President of the Youth Wing of the Bwatiye Development Association, urged the governor to intervene, citing his reputation as “the people’s governor.” He argued that Jackson’s actions were in self-defense and that executing him could escalate tensions between farmers and herders in the region.
The group referenced Section 212 of the Nigerian Constitution, which grants state governors the power to commute sentences or grant pardons, and called on Fintiri to exercise his authority in the interest of justice and peace.
The case has drawn widespread public attention, with legal experts and civil society groups advocating for a review of the circumstances surrounding the incident. Many are now looking to the governor for a decision that could set a precedent for self-defense cases in Adamawa State.
