Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the growing trend of ethnic profiling in Nigeria, insisting that criminal activities should never be used to label or judge entire ethnic groups.
In a statement shared on his verified X account on Monday, Obi expressed concern over what he described as the increasing tendency to associate crime with particular ethnic communities, warning that such actions promote division and weaken national unity.
The former Anambra State governor said many Nigerians have experienced discrimination and unfair judgment because of their ethnic background, noting that he could personally relate to the experience as an Igbo man.
According to him, people are often judged based on their tribe rather than their character and actions.
“As an Igbo man, I have endured stereotypes, judgment, and labelling solely based on my ethnic origins. This is not an isolated Igbo experience. Most Nigerians have, at some point, been reduced to their ethnicity rather than recognised for their true character,” Obi stated.
He also spoke in defence of ordinary Fulani people, saying many of them have become victims of unfair stereotypes due to the actions of criminals who do not represent their ethnic group.
Obi noted that many law-abiding Fulani citizens are wrongly blamed for crimes committed by individuals with whom they have no connection.
“I understand the pain of the ordinary Fulani man today, often unfairly judged by the actions of criminals he does not support, has never met, and who are not representative of his people,” he said.
The former governor stressed that criminality should be treated as an individual offence rather than an ethnic characteristic, maintaining that criminals should be identified by their actions and not by their tribe.
“Crime has no ethnicity. A thief is a thief. A terrorist is a terrorist. A kidnapper is a kidnapper. They are bad actors, not representatives of any people,” Obi added.
He called on security agencies to continue identifying, arresting and prosecuting offenders in accordance with the law while avoiding narratives that stigmatise entire communities.
Obi warned that ethnic profiling fuels mistrust, deepens social divisions and provides opportunities for political actors to manipulate ethnic differences for their own interests.
Drawing a comparison with the civil rights movement in the United States, he referenced the principle championed by Martin Luther King Jr. that people should be judged by their character rather than their identity.
He urged Nigerians to embrace the country’s diversity, reject stereotypes and focus on building a society where citizens are valued for who they are rather than where they come from.
According to Obi, the country’s progress depends on unity, fairness and equal treatment for all citizens regardless of ethnicity, religion or place of birth.
“A new Nigeria must emerge—one where no citizen is condemned because of tribe, religion, or birthplace,” he said.
Crime Has No Ethnicity, Peter Obi Warns Against Profiling Fulani and Other Ethnic Groups
