The Supreme Court of Nigeria has sparked global outrage after upholding the death sentence for a Christian farmer.
Sunday Jackson killed a Fulani herdsman in self defence after the Islamic intruder seized his land 11-years ago.
Despite his victim attempting to murder him with a knife, Mr. Jackson was arrested, and has been in prison ever since.
A Muslim judge sentenced him to death by hanging four years ago.
Human rights groups in Nigeria and around the world have denounced the sentence as “a horrendous miscarriage of justice.”
Fulanis murder thousands of Christians in Nigeria every year.
They are seldom caught and punished.
NEW YORK PASTOR OFFERS HIS LIFE FOR THAT OF CONDEMNED FARMER
An American pastor is offering his life in exchange for Mr. Jackson’s.
Pastor William Devlin, the missions pastor of Infinity Bible Church in New York’s South Bronx, is among global Christians appealing for clemency.
He told The Christian Post: “My relationship with Jesus Messiah demands that I offer myself up for Sunday Jackson, much as Jesus Messiah offered Himself up for me.'”
“God has blessed me with a great life. If I can save that man’s life, and they take my life, then I’m willing to do it.”
Pastor Devlin is 72 while Mr. Jackson is 30.
The pastor has traveled the planet for years advocating for, and standing in solidarity with, persecuted Christians.
He has been involved in Mr. Jackson’s case since a High Court handed down the death sentence in 2021.
The judge interpreted the law to mean that Sunday Jackson should have fled the scene instead of defending himself and his farm.
The Supreme Court upheld that ruling earlier this month.
PLEAS FOR PARDON FOR SUNDAY JACKSON
The Christian Association of Nigeria has called on the local state governor to pardon Mr. Jackson.
“The facts of this case are a textbook case of miscarriage of justice,” it said.
“His trial essentially consisted of no more than five days of sittings, yet he has spent more than ten-years in custody.”
Sunday Jackson admits the killing, but insists it was in self-defence.
US LAWMAKERS CALL FOR TOUGHER ACTION AGAINST NIGERIA
Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives held a congressional hearing earlier this month titled: Conflict and Persecution in Nigeria: The Case for a CPC Designation.
A CPC is a Country of Particular Concern — a designation that can result in potential sanctions or other diplomatic deterrence measures.
The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa heard from Nigerian Catholic Bishop Wilfred Anagbe who warned of a “long-term, Islamic agenda” to “homogenise” the population and eliminate all Christians.
He testified: “This strategy includes both violent and non-violent actions, such as the exclusion of Christians from positions of power, the abduction of Church members, the killing and expulsion of Christians, the destruction of churches and farmlands of Christian farmers, followed by the occupation of such lands by Fulani herders.”
“All of this takes place without government interference or reprisals,” he added.
Subcommittee chair Chris Smith called on the Trump administration to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC as it did during Donald Trump’s first presidency.
The Biden administration reversed that designation.
