In a controversial legal ruling, Nigerian farmer Sunday Jackson has been sentenced to death by hanging for killing a Fulani herdsman in self-defense. The incident, which occurred on February 11, 2021, in Adamawa State, involved a violent altercation between Jackson and the herdsman, who allegedly attacked him with a machete.
Despite Jackson’s claim that he acted purely in self-defense, the Supreme Court of Nigeria on March 7, 2025, upheld a lower court’s verdict, ruling that he should have fled instead of retaliating after disarming his attacker. The judgment has sparked outrage and renewed calls for legal reforms, particularly concerning the right to self-defense in life-threatening situations.
The Incident: A Fight for Survival
According to reports, Sunday Jackson, a farmer from Adamawa State, was working on his farm when a Fulani herdsman attacked him with a machete, intending to kill him. In a desperate struggle, Jackson sustained severe injuries but managed to overpower his attacker. Acting in self-preservation, he took the machete from the herdsman and stabbed him, resulting in the herdsman’s death.
Shortly after the incident, Jackson was arrested and charged with murder. His defense argued that he had no choice but to fight back to save his own life. However, the court ruled that he was guilty of murder, stating that once Jackson had disarmed his attacker, he should have fled instead of retaliating.
Legal Battle and Supreme Court Verdict
Following his arrest in 2021, Jackson spent four years in detention before his case reached the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In February 2021, the High Court of Yola found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to death by hanging. His legal team immediately appealed the decision, but on March 7, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling, sealing his fate.
The court’s justification for the verdict was that Jackson, after overpowering his attacker, had the option to escape instead of delivering the fatal blow. This ruling has sparked national and international criticism, with many questioning the application of self-defense laws in Nigeria.
Public Outrage and Calls for Justice
The Supreme Court’s verdict has been met with widespread condemnation, particularly from human rights activists, legal experts, and rural communities who have long struggled with attacks by armed herdsmen. Many believe that Jackson’s conviction highlights biases in the legal system, where victims are often punished more severely than their attackers.
Prominent human rights lawyer Delvin Ogebe expressed deep disappointment in the ruling, stating:
“The justice system has failed a man who acted purely to save his own life. This decision sends a dangerous message that victims of violent attacks have no right to defend themselves.”
On social media, Nigerians have expressed outrage, with many using hashtags like #JusticeForSundayJackson to demand a review of the case. Critics argue that Fulani herdsmen have been responsible for countless killings, yet justice is rarely served when the victims are innocent farmers defending their land and lives.
Self-Defense in Nigerian Law: A Legal Dilemma
In most countries, self-defense laws allow individuals to use reasonable force to protect their lives, especially when faced with an immediate and life-threatening attack. However, the interpretation of self-defense laws in Nigeria remains unclear, particularly in cases where the victim fights back with lethal force.
Many legal experts argue that Jackson’s case exposes flaws in the justice system, particularly the assumption that he could have escaped after disarming his attacker. How realistic is it for a severely injured farmer to run away from a deadly confrontation? Critics say the ruling fails to account for the realities of violent attacks in rural Nigeria, where victims often have no access to law enforcement or immediate help.
What’s Next? Can Jackson Be Saved?
Now that the Supreme Court has ruled, Jackson’s only remaining hope lies in:
- Presidential clemency from President Bola Tinubu
- Intervention by human rights organizations such as Amnesty International
- Legal reviews and possible retrial based on new evidence
His legal team is expected to file a petition for clemency, arguing that his actions were a necessary act of survival rather than premeditated murder. If successful, Jackson could have his sentence commuted to life imprisonment or even overturned.
A Cry for Justice
The case of Sunday Jackson serves as a wake-up call for Nigeria’s legal system. It highlights the plight of rural farmers, the flaws in self-defense laws, and the urgent need for reforms that ensure justice is applied fairly.
As Nigeria debates the implications of this ruling, one question remains:
Should a man be sentenced to death for defending his life?
