Human rights activist Mahdi Shehu has urged Nigerians to avoid profiling entire ethnic or religious groups in response to rising insecurity, highlighting that crime exists across all cultures and communities, according to his official X account.
Shehu’s statement followed the viral circulation of photos showing several suspected kidnappers arrested in Ekiti State. He cautioned against blaming whole groups for the actions of a few, stressing: “Crimes and criminals have no border. They are in all cultures, faith, social class, geography, and tribes… Profiling a whole set of people because of their faith, language, dress, culture makes you a worst criminal.”
The activist emphasized that criminal behavior is not confined to any tribe, faith, or region. He explained that understanding crime as a human problem, rather than an ethnic one, is critical to creating effective security solutions. Shehu warned that focusing on the identity of perpetrators rather than their actions deepens societal divisions and distracts from meaningful efforts to combat crime.
The debate erupted after photos of several arrested suspects circulated online. Reports indicated the suspects were involved in kidnappings across parts of Ekiti and that some allegedly disguised themselves as herdsmen. One suspect was reportedly a retired police officer. The viral post also claimed all suspects belonged to the Yoruba ethnic group, prompting public discussion about stereotypes and unfair generalizations.
Shehu concluded by reminding Nigerians that criminals exist in every social environment and that judging entire communities for the actions of a few is harmful, dangerous, and counterproductive. He urged citizens to focus on addressing crime itself rather than assigning blame based on ethnicity or faith.
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