An American pastor has made a stunning offer to sacrifice his own life in place of a Nigerian Christian farmer sentenced to death by hanging, a case that has sparked international attention and debate over justice, faith, and human rights.
Pastor William Devlin, the missions pastor of Infinity Bible Church in the South Bronx, New York, has stepped into the spotlight to advocate for Sunday Jackson, a Nigerian man whose death sentence was recently upheld by Nigeria’s Supreme Court on March 7, 2025.
Jackson’s ordeal began in 2021 when he was attacked on his farm in Adamawa State by a Fulani herdsman. Claiming self-defense, Jackson killed his assailant during the confrontation.
However, the Adamawa High Court ruled that Jackson should have fled rather than fought back, interpreting Nigerian law strictly and sentencing him to death by hanging.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirmed the lower court’s decision, exhausting Jackson’s legal appeals and setting the stage for Pastor Devlin’s extraordinary plea.
Speaking to reporters in Nigeria shortly after the Supreme Court’s ruling, Devlin announced his willingness to take Jackson’s place if clemency efforts fail.
“I was just filled with emotion,” Devlin told The Christian Post in an interview published today.
“This man acted to protect his life and his land, and now he faces execution. As a follower of Christ, who gave His life for others, I am prepared to do the same if it comes to that.”
Devlin’s offer has drawn parallels to biblical narratives of sacrifice and has rallied support from various Christian leaders worldwide.
According to Christianity Today, Devlin has joined a coalition of human rights advocates and religious figures calling on the Nigerian government to reconsider Jackson’s sentence.
The case has also reignited discussions about the application of Nigeria’s penal code, particularly in rural areas where conflicts between farmers and Fulani herdsmen—a semi-nomadic group often involved in land disputes—have claimed numerous lives in recent years.
The story has gained traction beyond religious circles.
BBC News reported that the case highlights broader tensions in Nigeria’s legal system, where strict judicial interpretations sometimes overshadow self-defense claims.
Advocates argue that Jackson’s sentence reflects a failure to account for the context of escalating violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region, where farmer-herder clashes have left communities on edge.
In an interview with Reuters this week, a Nigerian legal expert, who requested anonymity, noted that while Devlin’s offer is symbolic, it underscores the international pressure mounting on Nigeria’s government.
“This is not just about one man’s fate,” the expert said. “It’s about how justice is administered in cases involving marginalized farmers versus powerful ethnic groups.”
Devlin, a seasoned pastor and human rights advocate, has a history of engaging in global missions, but his current stance marks a dramatic escalation in his activism.
Speaking to The Christian Post, he emphasized his faith as the driving force behind his offer. “Christ’s sacrifice is my model,” he said. “If my life can bring attention to this injustice and save Sunday Jackson, then I’m ready.”
The Nigerian government has issued no official response regarding Devlin’s plea or the broader campaign for clemency.
Meanwhile, Jackson remains on death row, his fate uncertain as the world watches this unprecedented act of solidarity unfold.
For now, Pastor Devlin continues to rally support, urging both prayer and action.
“This is a moment for the global church to stand up,” he told reporters.
Whether his offer will sway authorities or alter Jackson’s destiny remains to be seen, but it has undeniably cast a spotlight on a case that might otherwise have faded into obscurity.
