A coalition of security experts, academics and civil society actors has urged authorities to abandon ethnicity-based labels in security operations, warning that such practices deepen division and threaten national stability.
The call was made during a high-level virtual dialogue convened by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited and The Whiteink Institute for Strategy Education and Research, with support from the UKAid-backed Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria.
In a statement jointly signed by Dr Kabir Adamu and Brig. Gen. Saleh Bala (retd.), the organisers said the February 10, 2026 session focused on improving language used in regional security engagements, particularly in the North-West and North-Central, where profiling has been linked to recurring tensions.
Speaking, the SPRiNG Team Leader, Ukoha Ukiwo, said findings from inception studies revealed that hate speech and divisive narratives remain key drivers of violence.
He stressed the need for conflict-sensitive communication, warning that careless language could undermine peacebuilding efforts and even “boomerang” into further instability.
Participants across sectors expressed concern over identity-based classifications in security discourse.
Executive Director of Neem Foundation, Fatima Akilu, noted that such labels are rarely neutral and often oversimplify identities, worsening marginalisation.
Also, Ambassador Sarki Usman, representing multi-agency stakeholders, said ethnic profiling was counterproductive, as it fuels stigma and weakens intelligence gathering.
From the academia, Prof. Okey Okechukwu of Nnamdi Azikiwe University called for inclusive, community-driven peacebuilding beyond theoretical frameworks.
On the security front, Major Gen. E.G. Ode (retd.) advocated a strategic overhaul that integrates cultural awareness and accountability into operations.
Similarly, Brig. Gen. Sani Kukasheka Usman (retd.) urged media practitioners to focus on criminality rather than ethnic identity, cautioning against “dog-whistle” narratives.
A North-Central community leader, Mr George Iyua’a, said behaviour-based terminology would help protect innocent citizens and rebuild public trust.
The organisers disclosed that outcomes from the dialogue would feed into a broader physical conference scheduled for April 1 and 2, 2026, in Abuja.
They added that the meeting would produce a draft toolkit and policy brief to guide language use across defence, law enforcement and judicial institutions, while promoting responsible communication in media and education sectors.
According to them, the initiative aims to foster cross-sector collaboration to tackle stereotyping and enhance the effectiveness of security responses in Nigeria and the wider West African region.
