A Nigerian farmer, Sunday Jackson, has been sentenced to death for killing a Fulani herdsman in self-defense during an attack in 2014. Despite evidence of stab wounds and pleas for leniency, the Supreme Court upheld the sentence, sparking calls for judicial reform over the fairness of the ruling.
In a controversial legal case, Sunday Jackson, a farmer from Adamawa, has been sentenced to death by hanging for killing a Fulani herdsman in self-defense. The incident occurred in 2014 when the herdsman attacked Jackson on his farm. After being repeatedly stabbed by the herdsman, Jackson managed to wrestle the knife away and fatally stabbed his attacker in self-defense. However, a court in Yola sentenced Jackson to death for murder in 2021, and despite his defense team's appeal, the Supreme Court upheld the sentence on March 7, 2025.
The court ruled that Jackson should have run from the attacker, rather than fight back. Jackson’s legal team presented evidence of his stab wounds, showing he was physically unable to flee. Nevertheless, the judge insisted that Jackson had a duty to escape rather than defend himself. This ruling has sparked widespread outrage, with many Nigerians calling for judicial reforms. Critics argue that self-defense should not result in a death sentence and that the ruling is unfair, especially considering the circumstances of the attack. Social media reactions highlight the growing frustration with the judiciary system and the perceived inconsistency in handling cases involving self-defense, particularly when it involves ethnic or rural tensions. The case has reignited discussions about the need for justice reforms in Nigeria’s legal system.
