By Mike Odeh James
Kaduna–In a small prison cell in Nigeria, a Christian man waits for a fate he insists he does not deserve. His name is Sunday Jackson, a former student turned farmer in his early 30s, now condemned to death by hanging. His crime? Defending himself against a Fulani terrorist who is Muslim.
Jackson was arrested and charged with murder. Despite his insistence that he acted in self-defense, a court in Yola found him guilty in 2021 and sentenced him to death. His appeals failed, and in March 2025, Nigeria’s Supreme Court upheld the ruling, sealing his fate—unless the governor of Adamawa State grants him clemency.
Speaking to TruthNigeria, U.S.-based attorney Emmanuel Ogebe narrates how Jackson’s life took a tragic turn.
“In 2015, on a seemingly ordinary day in Codonti Forest, located in Numan County of Adamawa State, Jackson’s life changed forever. He was working on his farm when a Fulani herdsman, Buba Bawuro, entered his land with his cattle.
“A confrontation ensued. Bawuro, armed with a knife, attacked Jackson, stabbing him multiple times. In a desperate attempt to save his life, Jackson fought back, managing to seize the knife from his attacker and stabbing him in the neck. Bawuro died from the wounds.”
According to Ogebe, Jackson’s actions were not premeditated; rather, they were borne out of the need to save his life.
“Jackson did not come with any weapon; he did not know he was going to be fighting for his life that very day. It was the assailant’s knife that he retrieved and used to save his own life.”
Not Buoyant Enough to Afford a Good Legal Team
Speaking to TruthNigeria, a source close to the Governor’s office revealed that the convict did not have a strong legal team because he was not wealthy enough to afford one. As a result, the Nigerian Legal Aid Council provided him with legal representation.
“Most of the lawyers that the NLAC provides are, at times, not so thorough with their briefs. It was when Emmanuel Ogebe, a U.S.-based lawyer, stepped in that he rejuvenated Jackson’s legal team. It was Ogebe and his team that helped take the case to the Supreme Court.”
A Legal and Humanitarian Nightmare
Jackson’s case has drawn widespread condemnation, particularly from human rights advocates and legal experts. Among them is U.S.-based human rights lawyer Ogebe, who has been deeply involved in Jackson’s defense.
“This is a sad day for Nigerians and their right to self-defense,” Ogebe stated. “Nigerians already have to provide their own security, electricity, and infrastructure. Now, they can’t even defend themselves without being sentenced to death.”
Ogebe, who reviewed the court judgment early in the process, immediately noticed significant legal errors. “There was a 167-day lapse between the closing arguments and the judgment. The Nigerian constitution requires rulings within 90 days. That should have been enough to challenge the verdict.”
Yet, despite the legal irregularities and overwhelming evidence that Jackson had acted in self-defense, the court refused to overturn his conviction.
Human rights activist and pastor Dr. William Terence Devlin, who has been advocating for Jackson internationally, expressed his deep disappointment. “This is a failure of the Nigerian justice system,” he said. “By any legal or moral standard, this man is innocent.”
A Pattern of Injustice?
Jackson’s case has sparked outrage beyond legal concerns, shining a spotlight on the broader issue of violence in Nigeria, particularly attacks by Fulani militias.
Reports from human rights organizations suggest that Fulani herdsmen have been responsible for thousands of deaths, often targeting Christian farming communities. Yet, few have faced the death penalty.
“There are more Nigerians on death row for defending themselves against Fulani attackers than there are Fulani herdsmen facing justice for massacres,” Ogebe pointed out. “That is simply unacceptable.”
Many argue that Jackson’s conviction reflects a larger pattern of systemic failure—where the Nigerian state is unable to protect its Christian citizens from violence, yet punishes those who take measures to protect themselves.
Sentenced Because He is a Christian
Rev David Ayuba Azzaman tells Truthnigeria that in 2019, Deborah Samuel, a young Christian student, was brutally murdered by a Muslim mob, primarily composed of Fulani and Hausa individuals. Though her killers were well known and arrested, they were later released without consequence.
“Deborah Samuel’s killers are walking free today because she was a Christian, and her murderers were Muslims,” said Rev. David Ayuba Azzaman in an interview with TruthNigeria.
He drew a striking parallel to the case of Sunday Jackson, a Christian farmer who was attacked and nearly killed by a Fulani terrorist. Jackson defended himself and killed his attacker, yet instead of being recognized for acting in self-defense, he was sentenced to death.
“Today, many in the police, military, and judiciary—who are either Muslims, Fulanis, or Hausas—see nothing wrong with terrorists killing Christians because of their faith. But when Christians defend themselves, it suddenly becomes a crime,” Rev. Azzaman stated.
He likened this injustice to the post-Civil War and Civil Rights-era U.S., where the Ku Klux Klan killed Black Americans with impunity. “Because the KKK had the passive support of white supremacists, they were not prosecuted.”
Rev. Azzaman warned, “The world must recognize that there is an ongoing campaign to intimidate and drive Northern Christians from their ancestral lands.”
The Last Hope: A Race Against Time
Now, with all legal avenues exhausted, Jackson’s life hangs in the balance. The only option left is an appeal for clemency from the governor of Adamawa State.
Human rights activists are mobilizing efforts worldwide to raise awareness about Jackson’s case and pressure Nigerian authorities to grant him reprieve. Devlin and Ogebe are leading a campaign to reach political leaders and the international community.
“We are moving as fast as possible,” Devlin said. “Every moment counts. If the governor grants clemency, Sunday Jackson could walk free. If not, he will be executed.”
Rev John Joseph Hayab, the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) for the 19 Northern state also weighed in, the Association while condemning the death sentence, asked Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State to use prerogative of Mercy to grant clemency to the Christian young man.
Mike Odeh James is a Conflict Reporter. He writes for Truthnigeria
