A fresh wave of international advocacy has erupted following the January 8, 2026, death sentence handed down by a Kaduna State High Court to Victor Solomon, popularly known as “Zidane,” a Christian farmer from the Adara ethnic community in southern Kaduna.
Activists and human rights defenders are framing the case as a stark miscarriage of justice, arguing that the conviction criminalizes legitimate self-defense amid years of deadly communal clashes between indigenous farming communities and nomadic Fulani herders.
Zidane, arrested in 2018 during violent incidents in the Kasuwan Magani area, was accused of murder in connection with deaths that occurred during attacks on his community.
Supporters claim he acted to protect his people from armed assailants in a region long plagued by farmer-herder conflicts, which have claimed thousands of lives and displaced many more across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
The case has drawn particular attention due to conflicting judicial outcomes: Zidane was reportedly acquitted in one High Court proceeding on the same charges but convicted and sentenced to death by hanging in another.
Critics, including local activists and Christian leaders, have raised alarms over potential double jeopardy, judicial bias, and the broader pattern of disproportionate punishment for Christians defending themselves in northern Nigeria.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the northern region expressed deep concern, with Chairman Rev. John Joseph Hayab stating that the body is reviewing both judgments and plans to pursue an appeal based on available evidence.
CAN leaders have described the ruling as “painful,” highlighting what they see as inconsistencies in the legal process and the failure to adequately recognize self-defense rights under Nigerian law.
The campaign has gained traction online under the hashtag #FREEZIDANE, with prominent Nigerian activist Dr. Kenon (@drkenon2
on X) directly appealing to U.S. Congressman Riley Moore (R-WV) to intervene.
In a widely shared post featuring a graphic poster, Dr. Kenon urged Moore to build on his recent success in securing the December 2025 pardon and release of Sunday Jackson, another Christian farmer from northern Nigeria who spent over a decade on death row after killing an attacker in self-defense.
Moore, who has been vocal on issues of Christian persecution globally, praised Jackson’s release at the time as a sign of improving U.S.-Nigeria cooperation under Bola Tinubu.
He credited sustained advocacy—including congressional engagements and meetings with Nigerian officials—for the outcome.
Activists now hope a similar diplomatic push could lead to clemency, commutation, or a successful appeal for Zidane before the execution date.
Nigeria retains the death penalty under its Criminal Code, though no executions have occurred since 2016, leaving thousands on death row.
Human rights groups have long criticized its application in cases involving communal violence, where ethnic and religious tensions often intersect with security failures.
The Adara community and supporters portray Solomon as a defender rather than an aggressor, insisting the sentence ignores the context of repeated attacks by armed groups in southern Kaduna.
As the appeal process begins and international attention mounts, the case underscores ongoing debates over justice, self-defense rights, and minority protections in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
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Calls for global prayer and pressure continue, with advocates urging swift action to prevent what they describe as another irreversible injustice.
The Nigerian government has not yet issued an official response to the growing campaign.
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