The US member of the House of Representatives, Riley Moore, has called on the federal government to pardon Sunday Jackson, a farmer sentenced to death for killing an attacker while defending himself.

Moore made the appeal on Thursday during a US House of Representatives hearing on President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), he described Jackson’s conviction as unfair, saying the farmer acted in self-defense.

“I would urge the Nigerian government to take a look at pardoning Sunday Jackson, who is an individual who was fighting for his own life, defending his life against one of these Fulani militants.

That Fulani militant lost his life in that struggle, and now that person, Sunday, is facing the death penalty. Where is the justice in that?” Moore said.

Jackson reportedly killed the attacker during a confrontation on his farm in Adamawa State. Despite his claim of self-defense, he was convicted of murder by an Adamawa State High Court, and the Supreme Court later upheld the ruling.

Domestically, religious and civil society groups have also called for clemency. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), and the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria have all appealed to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to grant mercy.

Notably, the family of the deceased attacker has forgiven Jackson and urged the government to show leniency.

Jackson’s case has sparked nationwide debate over self-defense, justice, and rural insecurity. With both local and international attention on the matter, many are now watching to see whether the Adamawa State Government will grant Jackson a pardon.