- Advertisement -spot_img
34.3 C
Lagos
HomeMetro NewsEthnic Profiling: Are all Fulani Herdsmen involved in kidnapping in S/West?

Ethnic Profiling: Are all Fulani Herdsmen involved in kidnapping in S/West?

- Advertisement -spot_img

By Ademola Adedoyin

First, What ethnic profiling is: This is defined as suspecting or targeting a person on the basis of assumed characteristics or behaviour of a racial or ethnic group, rather than on individual suspicion. -Wikipedia
Now, if I state that the building materials business in Orile Iganmu, Lagos, is dominated by the Yoruba, is that ethnic profiling? No.
But if I see any Yoruba person and I conclude in me that he must be a building materials seller, that is ethnic profiling.
In the same vein, if I say spare parts business in Ladipo market, Mushin is dominated by people of Igbo extraction, it is a statement of fact, but certainly not ethnic profiling.

READ ALSO: Nigeria accounts for 6.8% FDI to Africa in 2020, Egypt tops continent’s investment flows ~UNTAD
But if I then go ahead to assert that every Igbo man I come across must be a spare part seller, that is ethnic profiling.
Similarly, I will not be wrong to assert that kilishi meat trade in Garki, Abuja is dominated by the Hausa/Fulani. It is the truth.
But I will be guilty of ethnic profiling if I hold the view that every Hausa or Fulani man in sight must be a kilishi meat seller.
Why I have gone this far to lay this foundation is to correct the erroneous impression about what ethnic profiling is and, particularly, what the people in authorities are defining it to be. This is in respect of the criminality and the accompanying tension that currently engulfs the country.
If I state, for instance, that kidnapping for ransom, cold blooded murder of farmers and raping of women while on their farms in Yoruba land and other parts of the South of Nigeria, are crimes dominated by the Fulani, many of who claim to be herdsmen or pretending to be herdsmen, available statistics will bear that assertion out.

It is a statement of fact. The victims know their tormentors. This is not ethnic profiling. It is just the hard fact.
What will be ethnic profiling is to say or infer that every Fulani in Southern Nigeria or every Fulani herdsman, is a suspect or should be viewed in the context of these heinous crimes. No. Not correct. No right thinking person should, by any stretch of imagination, imply that because it is not so.
But we should not refuse to state the facts as they are because we want to be politically correct.

~Adedoyin is the Lead Consultant/CEO at MESSAGESINC PR

Join Our Mailing List!

* indicates required
- Advertisement -spot_img
- Advertisement -spot_img
Must Read
Related News
- Advertisement -spot_img