Ibo/Yoruba Faceoff in Lagos: Effects of Ethnic Profiling on National Security
Ethnic profiling is the act of suspecting, targeting or discriminating against a person on the basis of their ethnicity, religion or nationality, rather than on individual suspicion or available evidence. It is a global condemnable act which has caused unprecedented bloodshed in so many countries of the world. It is usually used as a political weapon to hold on to power, to win over some group in favour of a political party or sometimes, to set some people against another. It is therefore used mostly by politicians for their own selfish interest as they breed intolerance, fanatical and ethnic hatred to achieve a desired goal. It is not our opinion that Nigerian politicians are behind ongoing faceoff between the Ibos and Yoruba in Lagos,, they could be innocent, but definitely, it has a political undertone.
History has it on record that ethnic and religious profiling have grave consequences for the stability of a nation and unprecedented effect on its national security, peace and harmony especially for a multi ethnic nation like ours. For instance, in Rwanda, one million people, mainly Tutsi, were murdered in cold blood due to the bigotry of some power-hungry politicians. It was a bad experience we don’t want to experience in Nigeria. Hence, the ongoing profiling in Lagos must be condemned by all. As Nigerians, a known indivisible entity no matter the situation, we must always be ready to avoid the temptation of profiling any group as evil, or as minority or the sole source of any hullaballoo befalling any group of people. The words and action of certain individuals, names withheld, some highly placed, and some compromised media outfits, discriminating against a particular ethnic group, is a serious threat to national unity and we, at Secured Naija stand against this as we project peace and national harmony in our reportage.
We are not going to apportion blame to any group in this writeup, neither are we to mention names, the purpose is to quickly bring to the notice of Nigerians the effects of ethnic profiling on our national security and subsequently call on the appropriate authority to caution the players.
Racial profiling Creates Mistrust
If a group of individual is subjected to treatment as an outcast or unimportant, merely on the basis of suspicion built on political undertone, then that creates mistrust in their mind against the institution of the state. This punctures their trust in the state and could give them the perception that government works for some people and not all people, or that they are not wanted or loved. Such mistrust is not only based on obvious racial profiling against their person but also due to the feelings in the air that profiling exists in the first instance. It becomes worst and looks like a proverbial “adding fire to fuel” when the government looks away. This could lead to crisis, conflict and subsequently, war.
Racial profiling Results to Alienation
When a group is subjected to profiling, it makes them loose the sense of belongingness they have for their nation. This could lead them to drop their sense of citizenship. Once rejected by a particular society or the mainstream society, they either migrate or subside to the problem.
Physical Effects
The upsurge in attack on some group as a result of racial profiling. Attacks on source of living which could involves a group of violent people attacking a person or a group of persons, or carrying out arson on their source of livelihood amounting to hate crime, on the lines of political or other related sentiments.
Conclusion
The back blast of all these is insecurity, uneccessary agitations and uncalled for hatred amongst the citizens who are supposed to be their brothers keepers. Therefore, SECURED NAIJA calls on all players in this doom to caution themselves and sue for peace. God bless the Federal republic of Nigeria, Long lives Nigeria.
