U.S. Pastor Offers His Life For Nigerian Farmer On Death Row
An American pastor is offering his life in exchange for Sunday Jackson, a Nigerian farmer sentenced to death by hanging for killing a Fulani herdsman during an attack on his farm.
William Devlin, missions pastor of Infinity Bible Church in the South Bronx, New York, made his plea after Nigeria’s Supreme Court upheld Jackson’s conviction on 7th March 2024.
Devlin, who has been advocating for persecuted Christians worldwide, expressed his willingness to die in Jackson’s place, saying his Christian faith compels him to offer his life for Jackson as Jesus did for humanity.
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.”
Noting that he’s 72 while Jackson is only 30 years old, he continued, “If I can save that man’s life, and they take my life, then I’m willing to do it.”
Jackson, aged 30, was sentenced to death following an altercation in 2015, where he killed a herdsman who had attacked him after bringing his cattle onto Jackson’s farm.
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Despite the farmer’s claims of self-defence, the court ruled against him. Devlin has been involved in Jackson’s case since 2021, supporting the calls for clemency from various Christian leaders and human rights groups.
They argue that the trial was unjust, pointing to the lack of proper legal process and the fact that Jackson had been in custody for over six years before his trial.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has also called on Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to pardon Jackson, highlighting concerns about the fairness of the trial and the prolonged pre-trial detention.
The case has drawn international attention to the broader issue of violence between radicalised herders and predominantly Christian farming communities in Nigeria, which has led to thousands of deaths in the last decade.
Content Credit| Ajibola Emmanuel Adebayo
Image Credit| @phm.live
Source| premierchristian.news | gatewaynews.co.za
