Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has condemned ethnic profiling in media narratives, warning that linking crimes to entire ethnic groups threatens Nigeria’s unity and fuels hatred across communities.
In a post shared on X on Monday, Obi said he understood the pain of ethnic stereotyping from personal experience as an Igbo man, adding that many Nigerians have at one point been judged based on their tribe rather than their character. He also defended innocent Fulani people who, according to him, are unfairly blamed for crimes committed by criminal elements.
The former Anambra State governor stressed that criminality should never be tied to ethnicity, insisting that offenders must be treated as individuals under the law. “A thief is a thief. A terrorist is a terrorist. A kidnapper is a kidnapper,” Obi said, adding that criminals do not represent entire ethnic communities.
Obi further warned that collective blame against ethnic groups is dangerous and unjust, accusing politicians and divisive interests of exploiting tribal stereotypes for political gain. He urged Nigerians to celebrate cultural diversity instead of promoting prejudice and division.
His comments come amid ongoing debates over insecurity, banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping in Nigeria, issues that have often sparked controversy over the ethnic identity of perpetrators and accusations of collective blame against Fulani communities.
