Tinubu govt now taking Trump seriously with Sunday Jackson’s release: Riley Moore
U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore has hailed the pardon of Sunday Jackson, a Christian farmer who was on death row for killing a Fulani herdsman in self-defence.
“Sunday Jackson is free! After more than a decade in prison serving a death sentence for defending himself, Sunday Jackson has been pardoned,” Mr Moore said in a statement on Tuesday. “I have been advocating for Sunday’s release both in public and in private meetings, including during my recent Congressional Delegation visit to Nigeria.”
Mr Moore had been at the forefront of the advocacy seeking Mr Jackson’s release, mandating it as a condition to dialogue with the Nigerian government after being designated a ‘country of particular concern’ by President Donald Trump.
At the U.S. insistence on Mr Jackson’s release, Governor Ahmad Fintiri on Tuesday issued a pardon to Mr Jackson alongside seven other prisoners.
“I continue to see positive steps that my concerns and the concerns of President Trump are being taken seriously by the Nigerian government,” Mr Moore stated. “The Nigerian government at the federal and state level must ensure Sunday’s safety during and following his release.”
Last week, Mr Trump imposed travel restrictions on Nigerians, including suspending green card and permanent residency processing, citing a lack of a security framework and visa overstays.
But Mr Moore implied “constructive discussions” were underway to establish “a strategic security framework between our two countries to tackle the multifaceted security challenges facing Nigeria”.
In 2015, Mr Jackson, a 29-year-old farmer and student from the Dong community in the Demsa LGA in Adamawa, was working on his farm in Kodomti, Numan LGA, when Buba Ardo Bawuro, a herdsman, drove his cattle to graze there.
The herdsman pulled out a knife and stabbed Mr Jackson twice for challenging him. Wounded, Mr Jackson managed to seize the knife and stab Mr Bawuro in retaliation. The herdsman later died from his wounds.
Mr Jackson was arrested, tried, and convicted of manslaughter. Consequently, he was sentenced to death by hanging, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court of Nigeria but condemned by several civil society groups.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
14 kidnap victims rescued in Katsina
Troops rescued six males and eight females abducted in Katsina State.
States
Police arrest suspected transformer vandal in Enugu
Police said the suspect was found unconscious with various degrees of injuries.
World
U.S. govt indicts 17 Iranians over cyber theft
Prosecutors said the suspects allegedly stole more than 31 terabytes of data from institutions across the U.S.
States
Gov Alia nominates six new commissioners, seeks Benue assembly’s approval
The governor said the nominations were intended to strengthen the state executive council by filling existing vacancies and replacing outgoing members.
Heading 1
Nigeria should remain designated ‘country of particular concern’, Tinubu allowing slaughtering of Christians: U.S. Lawmaker
“Do not remove the CPC designation for Nigeria. They have not done near enough to protect Christians! They continue to get slaughtered,” Mr Moore said.
NationWide
Tinubu pledges peaceful campaign ahead of 2027 elections
“Let us remember that elections are not a do-or-die affair. We are partners in the project of nation-building,” he said.
