“Shock Verdict: Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Farmer in Self-Defense Case”

Mr. Sunday Jackson, a farmer from Adamawa State, has been sentenced to death by hanging for killing a Fulani herdsman in what many perceive as a tragic case of self-defense.

The Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the Adamawa High Court in Yola, sealing Jackson’s fate and igniting a passionate plea for clemency from supporters who view the sentence as a grave injustice.

The incident occurred in 2014 when Mr. Jackson was attacked on his farm by a Fulani herdsman armed with a knife. During the assault, Mr. Jackson sustained injuries to his legs. In a desperate struggle, he managed to overpower the herdsman, seizing the knife and stabbing him; the attacker later succumbed to his injuries.

Despite the circumstances indicating self-defense, Jackson was sentenced to death in 2021 after spending seven years in prison. The prosecution acknowledged during the trial that the knife belonged to the attacker, which has fueled arguments that Jackson acted in self-defense.

Nonetheless, Justice Fatima Ahmed Tafida, leading the trial court, ruled that Jackson should have fled the scene after disarming his attacker instead of using the weapon against him. Consequently, he was convicted of murder.

Regrettably, the Supreme Court has now upheld Jackson’s death sentence a decade later. The decision has left many questioning the application of justice in this case, with critics arguing that the ruling fails to consider the immediacy of the threat Jackson faced.

“This is a case of persecution,” said a rights activist. “Sunday Jackson was defending his life against an armed attacker. To sentence him to death for that is a miscarriage of justice that demands urgent attention.”