Obi Warns Against Fulani Ethnic Profiling in Banditry, Says Crime Has No Ethnicity

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has cautioned against framing crime along ethnic lines, saying it fuels division and unfairly targets innocent people.

In a statement released on Monday, by the spokesman of Peter Obi Media Reach, Ibrahim Umar, Obi said he understands the pain of ordinary Fulani Nigerians who are often judged by the actions of criminals they do not support and have never met. 

“As an Igbo man, I have endured stereotypes, judgment, and labelling solely based on my ethnic origins,” Obi said. “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.”

The former Anambra State governor argued that 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. They must be identified, arrested, and punished according to the law,” he said.

Obi urged Nigerians to abandon the practice of blaming entire ethnic groups for the actions of a few, warning that it breeds hatred and damages national unity. He cited the U.S. civil rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to judge people by the content of their character, not the colour of their skin.

He called for a “new Nigeria” where no citizen is condemned because of tribe, religion, or birthplace, and said the country should celebrate its diverse cultures and talents instead of falling prey to stereotypes exploited by politicians.