A Nigerian Christian farmer is now tasting freedom after he was granted pardon from a death sentence in Adamawa. Sunday Jackson has been issued a full pardon from Adamawa state Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri after he was sentenced to death for killing a Muslim radical in self-defence.
“Jackson, who is in Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, has been pardoned alongside Joseph Eugene from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Yola and Maxwell Ibrahim [who is] serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kaduna,” Wonosikou said in a statement.
Jackson’s account of the incident is that he was working on his farm in 2015, when Bawuro, who is also a farmer, herded his animals onto Jackson’s farm which ate some of his plants. The farmer said he was attacked with a knife, but eventually managed to overpower and kill his attacker.
In 2021, Jackson was sentenced to death by hanging after an Adamawa High Court judge ruled that he should have run from the scene rather than kill the other farmer. This ruling was upheld in March by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
United States Representative Riley M. Moore, human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe of the US Nigeria Law Group and missions pastor of Infinity Bible Church in the South Bronx, New York, William Devlin are among those celebrating this win.
Pastor Devlin made the announcement on Facebook, stating, “Sunday Jackson, our Christian brother in Nigeria has been pardoned. Barrister Ogebe & Rev Devlin worked as a team … we Give God all glory/credit!”
In March of this year, Devlin, while speaking with reporters after the Supreme Court upheld Jackson’s sentencing, gained some media attention for offering his life in exchange for Jackson’s.
“God has blessed me with a great life,” he declared, stating that he is 72 years old while Jackson is in his 30s. “If I can save that man’s life, and they take my life, then I’m willing to do it.”
He later told the Christian Post, “I was just filled with emotion. I said to the press, ‘My relationship with Jesus Messiah demands that I offer myself up for Sunday Jackson, much as Jesus Messiah offered Himself up for me.'”
“I see it as obedience to the Scripture. Jesus the Messiah did it for me. He went to the cross, and I have a new life because of that. So why wouldn’t I do that for someone else?”
Pastor Devlin, is the volunteer CEO of the nonprofit charities REDEEM! and Widows & Orphans and has, for years, participated in trips globally, advocating for persecuted Christians.
