Fintiri pardons farmer sentenced to death for killing herder
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has granted a state pardon to Sunday Jackson, a farmer who was sentenced to death by hanging for killing a herder, a decision that sparked widespread celebration in Yola on Tuesday.
Residents poured into the streets in jubilation shortly after the announcement, temporarily disrupting commercial activities in parts of the state capital as many hailed the move as a long-awaited act of justice.
In a statement, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, confirmed that Jackson, who had been awaiting execution at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja, was pardoned alongside two other inmates.
“Sunday Jackson, currently at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, has been granted a pardon alongside Joseph Eugene of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Yola, and Maxwell Ibrahim of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kaduna,” Wonosikou said.
He explained that the pardons were approved as part of activities marking the Christmas and New Year celebrations. In addition, the governor ordered the remission of the remaining jail terms of five other inmates—Joshua James Audo, Adamu Ibrahim, Mohammed Abubakar, Ibrahim Usman and Saidu Abubakar—serving sentences at the Medium Security Custodial Centres in Numan and Jada.
READ ALSO: Gov. Fintiri increases corps members’ allowance to N30,000
Governor Fintiri said the decisions were based on recommendations from the Adamawa State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, citing the inmates’ good conduct and significant improvement in behaviour.
“In the exercise of my prerogative of mercy as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and in line with the recommendations of the Adamawa State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, I have granted pardon to three persons and approved the remission of the remaining sentences of five others,” the governor said.
Jackson was convicted for killing a Fulani herder who was grazing cattle on his farm. Reports indicated that the farmer sustained serious injuries while attempting to chase the herders away and overpowered one of them during a struggle, which led to the herder’s death.
The case generated intense national and international debate after the Supreme Court earlier this year upheld Jackson’s conviction and death sentence. In November 2025, a member of the United States House of Representatives, Riley Moore, urged the Nigerian government to pardon Jackson, describing the incident as an act of self-defence.
Moore questioned the fairness of imposing the death penalty under the circumstances and raised the case during a US congressional debate on President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over alleged persecution of Christians.
Following the announcement of the pardon, celebrations erupted across Yola, with many residents expressing relief and satisfaction over the governor’s decision.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
