Supreme Court Sentences Adamawa Farmer to Death

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the death sentence of Mr. Sunday Jackson, a farmer from Adamawa State, who was convicted for killing a Fulani man in what he claimed was an act of self-defense during a violent encounter on his farm.

Mr. Jackson, a Christian from the northern state, had reportedly confronted an armed Fulani herder who invaded his farmland. The confrontation resulted in the death of the herder. Jackson maintained that he acted in self-defense, but the court found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to death by hanging. The ruling, delivered on March 7, 2025, has since drawn widespread condemnation from civil society groups and concerned citizens.

Critics argue that the verdict highlights a troubling pattern in the justice system, where victims of insecurity and violence in rural communities are often criminalized for defending themselves, while perpetrators of mass killings frequently go unpunished.

Activist and political commentator, Charles Ogbu, in a widely circulated statement, expressed concern over what he described as “selective justice” in Nigeria. He cited several recent incidents where armed attacks were carried out on farming communities in the Middle Belt, particularly in Plateau and Benue states, with no arrests or prosecutions recorded.

Ogbu referenced the case of a self-proclaimed leader of a Fulani militia group who appeared on national television claiming responsibility for a deadly attack in Plateau State that left over 170 people dead. Despite the public confession, no action was reportedly taken by the police, Department of State Services (DSS), or military authorities.

“This judgment against Sunday Jackson sends a dangerous message that victims of terrorism are not allowed to defend themselves,” Ogbu stated. “Meanwhile, those who openly take responsibility for mass killings continue to walk free.”

There has also been growing concern about the occupation of ancestral lands by armed groups in parts of Benue State. Community leaders have alleged that some of the attackers remain in control of villages they forcefully seized during previous raids.

Calls for stricter enforcement of anti-open grazing laws in affected states have intensified. Critics have urged governors in the South-East and parts of the Middle Belt to fully implement legislation aimed at regulating the movement of livestock in order to prevent further clashes between herders and farmers.

Governors Charles Soludo (Anambra), Alex Otti (Abia), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), and Hope Uzodinma (Imo) have come under pressure to take tougher measures to curb open grazing. Security experts argue that unregulated cattle movement often leads to disputes and escalates into violence.

The Chief of Defence Staff recently echoed these concerns, stating in a public address that open grazing must be halted if the country is serious about ending the cycle of violence in rural areas.