U.S. Sets Sunday Jackson’s Release as Condition for Military Partnership with Nigeria

U.S. federal lawmaker Riley Moore has urged Nigerian authorities to release Sunday Jackson, a man sentenced to death for killing an armed herdsman who allegedly attacked him on his farm.

The demand comes as part of ongoing discussions to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking to Fox News, Moore said the recent meeting between U.S. officials and a Nigerian delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu showed promise.

“The discussions were productive. There’s willingness to work with the United States to stop these killings. But releasing Sunday Jackson is a critical first step, along with disarming the radical Fulani militants in the Middle Belt,” he said.

Jackson was tried at the Yola High Court in Adamawa State under Section 211 of the northern Nigerian penal code, which carries the death penalty for culpable homicide.

During the trial, he admitted to the herdsman’s death but insisted he acted in self-defense. In February 2021, Judge Fatima Ahmed Tafida sentenced him to death, rejecting the self-defense claim on the grounds that Jackson could have escaped after overpowering his attacker.

The case has sparked criticism from lawyers and activists, who argue the verdict sets a concerning precedent for self-defense cases. Jackson’s release now hinges on a state pardon from the Adamawa governor, issued via the state attorney general.