Arewa leaders bemoan rising insecurity, ethnic profiling of Fulani nation

The Arewa Transformational Leaders (ATL) has expresses concern over the deteriorating security situation across Northern Nigeria and the country at large.

National Coordinator of the ATL, Yusuf Ibrahim, on Saturday in a statement also condemn the rising wave of ethnic profiling targeted at the entire Fulani people.

According to him, Northern Nigeria and indeed all of Nigeria are under siege of insecurity due to persistent acts of kidnapping for ransom, banditry, terrorism, cattle rustling, and communal attacks leading to loss of lives, displacement of communities, collapse of agriculture, and disruption of education and commerce.

“We call on the Federal Government, State Governors, and our security agencies to urgently adopt a more robust, intelligence-driven, and community-based security architecture. Security must be proactive, coordinated, and free of politics,” Ibrahim said.

On ethnic profiling against the Fulani people, the ATL helmsman described as dangerous and unconstitutional practice of profiling, demonizing, or collectively blaming the Fulani ethnic group for the crimes of armed criminals.

He said, “Criminality has no ethnicity, religion, or region. To label over 20 million Fulani Nigerians as “bandits” or “terrorists” because of the actions of lawless elements is a gross injustice. It is also factually wrong.

“Thousands of Fulani families are themselves victims. They have lost loved ones, herds, and ancestral homes to bandits. Many have been displaced from their communities and now live as IDPs within and outside the North. The majority of Fulanis are peaceful pastoralists, farmers, traders, academics, military officers, and professionals serving Nigeria.”

Ibrahim said that ethnic profiling is counter-productive as it protects criminals by shifting focus from individual guilt to collective blame.

He added that such fuels reprisals and inter-communal hatred that worsen insecurity; and also destroys trust between communities and security agencies that is needed to gather intelligence.

“As leaders committed to the transformation of Arewa and Nigeria, we demand responsible leadership from all quarters. To Government and Security Agencies: Arrest and prosecute criminals based on evidence and due process, not on tribe or accent. Secure our forests, borders, and highways. Protect both farming and herding communities equally under the law.

“To media practitioners, commentators, and social media users: Desist from sensational and tribal headlines. A criminal is a criminal. Report acts, not ethnicity; to traditional, religious, and political leaders: Use your platforms to preach peace, unity, and lawful conduct. Condemn hate speech at all times,” Ibrahim said.

He also urged all Nigerians not allow politicians, criminals, or extremists to turn the diversity into a weapon against each other as the enemy is insecurity, not any ethnic group.

“ATL will commence a “#ArewaForPeace, No To Profiling” tour across the 19 Northern States to engage youth, herders, farmers, and community leaders on peaceful coexistence, early warning systems, and non-violent conflict resolution.

“Nigeria cannot be secured through hatred. We will only defeat insecurity when we stand together as one people, one nation, under justice and the rule of law,” Ibrahim said.