US Congressman Demands Justice for Nigerian Farmer
American lawmaker Riley Moore has made a passionate appeal to the Nigerian government, calling for the immediate pardon of Sunday Jackson, an Adamawa farmer currently facing execution for a 2015 incident where he killed a herdsman during a confrontation.
The US Representative spoke during a House hearing on November 21, 2025, addressing President Donald Trump's decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. Moore strongly criticized Jackson's conviction, arguing that the court failed to properly consider the circumstances surrounding the case.
Questioning the Justice System
"I would urge the Nigerian government to take a look at pardoning Sunday Jackson, who is an individual who was fighting for his own life, defending his life against one of these Fulani militants," Moore stated during the hearing.
He emphasized the apparent injustice in the situation, noting that Jackson now faces the death penalty after what he claims was an act of self-preservation. "That Fulani militant lost his life in that struggle, and now that person, Sunday Jackson, is facing the death penalty. Where is the justice in that?" Moore questioned.
Broader Security Concerns in Middle Belt
Moore expanded his criticism to address wider security issues in Nigeria's Middle Belt region, where violent clashes between farmers and armed herdsmen have escalated dramatically over recent years.
"But somehow, these Fulani militants operating in the Middle Belt region of the country, they're all armed," Moore observed. "Why hasn't there been some type of move or campaign by the Nigerian government to disarm these militants? They have access to AK-47s and other small arms to slaughter Christians."
The congressman pressed US officials about whether they had raised the disarmament issue with Nigerian authorities, asserting that such action would significantly reduce violence in the troubled region.
Case Background and Legal Proceedings
The incident that led to Jackson's conviction occurred in 2015 on his farm in Adamawa State. Jackson consistently maintained that he acted in self-defense when he killed herdsman Buba Bawuro during an altercation.
According to Jackson's account, he was attacked and managed to disarm his assailant before the fatal confrontation. After years in detention, an Adamawa State High Court sentenced him to death in 2021.
The court ruled that Jackson had used the recovered weapon to stab the now-unarmed herdsman, which constituted retaliation rather than legitimate self-defense. Despite widespread public debate and calls for case review, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence on March 7, 2025.
Growing International Attention
Moore's intervention has brought international spotlight to Jackson's case, reigniting discussions about justice, security, and the ongoing farmer-herder conflicts in Nigeria.
Human rights observers note that the case could strain diplomatic discussions between the US and Nigeria, particularly concerning human rights and religious freedom issues.
The controversy comes amid Moore's recent meeting with Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, where they discussed alleged persecution of Christians and ongoing terrorist threats in Nigeria.
Both parties explored ways to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Nigeria to end the violence that has plagued various regions of the country.
