Peter Obi Condemns Ethnic Profiling, Says Crime Knows No Tribe

Presidential candidate Peter Obi has spoken out against the practice of linking crime to ethnicity, stating that it fuels division and undermines national unity. In a statement posted on his verified X account on Monday, June 8, Obi expressed concern over the growing tendency to stereotype entire ethnic groups based on the actions of a few criminal elements. As a former Anambra State governor, Obi noted that he has personally experienced prejudice because of his ethnic background, and that such stereotyping is neither fair nor productive. Obi specifically defended ordinary Fulani people, arguing that many of them are unfairly judged because of crimes committed by individuals with whom they have no connection. He drew parallels with the civil rights movement in the United States, referencing the words of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who urged people to be judged by their character rather than their identity. Obi maintained that criminality should be treated as an individual act rather than an ethnic trait, stating 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.' He called on law enforcement agencies to identify, arrest, and prosecute criminals without attaching their actions to entire communities, and urged Nigerians to celebrate the country's diversity and focus on shared values rather than stereotypes. According to Obi, a new Nigeria must emerge, one where no citizen is condemned because of tribe, religion, or birthplace.