Chidinma Iroegbu
Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has warned against linking criminal activities to ethnic groups, saying such narratives threaten national unity and peaceful coexistence.
Obi said criminality should remain an individual offence and not be used to stigmatise entire communities across the country.
In a statement shared on his X handle, the former Anambra State governor said many innocent Fulani citizens were being unfairly profiled because of the actions of criminal elements.
“A thief is a thief. A terrorist is a terrorist. A kidnapper is a kidnapper,” Obi stated while calling for offenders to face justice individually.
He warned that ethnic profiling encourages hatred, mistrust and division at a time Nigeria requires unity and cooperation to address insecurity.
Obi also urged Nigerians to focus on the country’s cultural diversity and the positive contributions of different ethnic nationalities to national development.
Meanwhile, some northerners residing in South-West states alleged increasing harassment and discrimination following heightened security concerns in parts of the region.
Chairman of the Arewa Development Support Group in Osun State, Ahmad S. Salihu, said fear generated by recent abductions in Oyo State had increased suspicion against northerners living in the South-West.
Salihu, who is also Sarkin Samari of Ile-Ife, said innocent residents were now facing profiling despite having no connection with criminal activities.
Similarly, Fulani community leader in Ekiti State, Malam Zayyanu Muhammad, said Hausa and Fulani residents in parts of the South-West were experiencing growing hostility linked to insecurity concerns in neighbouring states.