Riley Moore, member of the United States house of representatives, has asked the Nigerian government to pardon Sunday Jackson, a man sentenced to death for killing an attacker in self-defence.
Jackson was reportedly cultivating his farm when a suspected
herder, armed with a knife, attempted to attack him.
He reportedly overpowered his aggressor in self-defence,
resulting in the herder’s death.
In a ruling in 2021, an Adamawa high court sentenced Jackson
to death for the killing, ruling that he had the opportunity to escape rather
than stab his attacker.
On March 7, the supreme court upheld the ruling of the high
court.
However, during the congressional hearing of allegations of
Christian genocide in Nigeria on Thursday, Moore cited provisions of the 1999
Constitution that prohibit civilians from bearing arms.
The US lawmaker alleged that authorities routinely “look the
other way” as “Fulani militants” openly carry weapons.
“I would urge the Nigerian government to take a look at
pardoning Sunday Jackson, who was an individual who was fighting for his own
life, defending his life against one of these Fulani militants,” Moore said.
“That Fulani militant lost his life in that struggle, and
now that person, Sunday Jackson, is facing the death penalty. Now, where’s the
justice in that?
“Where is the justice in that? And all these Fulani
militants are breaking Nigerian law.
“Sunday Jackson disarms this person with a knife and
protects his own life. He’s going to prison and now faces the death penalty,
and Fulani militants are just roaming, bands of them with AK-47s, and that’s no
problem.”
Moore asked the federal government to prioritise security
and protection of lives.
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