Addressing Ethnic Profiling And Tribal Tensions In Nigeria

 By Klistivivi Ogunlana

On July 27, 2024, a popular X (formerly Twitter) user, @Lagospedia, tweeted a disturbing message. The user claimed the upcoming #EndBadGovernance protest, scheduled for 1 to 10 August 2024, was an Igbo-led attack on Lagos State. As a result, @Lagospedia demanded that all Igbos in Lagos and other southwestern states vacate the region within 30 days.

This is not the first time such a threat has been made. In 2017, the Arewa Youth leaders also issued a 90-day ultimatum for Igbos to leave northern Nigeria. These ultimatums violate the constitutional provisions that guarantee Nigerians’ rights to move freely and reside in any part of the country. If these actions continue, ethnic tensions could escalate into large-scale violence, forced displacements, and encourage genocide. 

To address this problem, the government must enforce the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, which criminalises ethnic threats. The government should also establish specialised units to monitor and respond swiftly to such threats. Furthermore, the federal government should collaborate with civil society, state governments, and local traditional leaders to promote unity and discourage divisive rhetoric. The National Orientation Agency should also introduce inter-ethnic collaboration programmes at the local government level. These programmes can help bridge differences and foster understanding among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups.

In the aftermath of the #EndBadGovernance protest on August 4, 2024, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu warned that the law would catch up with those inciting ethnic tensions. However, concrete steps need to be taken following the president’s statement. Section 26(d) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 makes it a crime to threaten any person or group based on race, color, ethnicity, or religion. The Act prescribes a punishment of a 5-year jail term, a N10,000,000 fine, or both. Yet, since its enactment, the law has been rarely enforced. A clear example is the 2023 elections in Lagos when political thugs profiled and threatened non-indigenous ethnic groups, demanding that the non-indigenes leave the state. The lack of enforcement, however, must change.

The federal government must immediately begin to prosecute individuals spreading ethnic hate online. To achieve this process, the government should establish a specialised unit within the Office of the National Security Adviser to monitor, identify, investigate, and respond to ethnic threats. The unit would be responsible for mobilising security personnel to protect vulnerable populations. In composing this unit, the government must include civil society organisations that advocate for human rights and freedom of speech to prevent abuse of power. 

The government must also enforce strict legal safeguards that limit monitoring to public forums. These safeguards must ensure that private communications remain protected and are not accessed without due process. Upon identifying and investigating cases of ethnic threats, the specialised unit should hand over suspected ethnic offenders to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution. 
 
Leaders in government and traditional institutions also have a critical role in fostering ethnic unity. Ethnic hate thrives when perpetrators enjoy implicit or explicit support from grassroots communities or authorities. Publicly condemning and prosecuting offenders, however, sends a clear message that ethnic hatred will not be tolerated. For example, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, publicly condemned @Lagospedia’s posts and asked security agencies to investigate and prosecute the person(s) behind the account. Such decisive actions weaken the local support base for ethnic hatred and reinforce societal values of inclusion and respect. Hence, leaders at all levels should consistently denounce and reject ethnic hatred.

Expanding opportunities for ethnic collaboration is equally crucial for fostering long-term tolerance among Nigeria’s tribes. Rwanda’s Umuganda programme is a good example of ethnic collaboration, where citizens from different ethnicities unite to work on community projects. Similarly, the NOA can introduce quarterly inter-ethnic community programs at the local government level to build trust between different ethnicities. These forums would bring together people from diverse ethnic backgrounds to discuss local issues, collaborate on communal projects, and resolve shared concerns.

Nigeria must show its commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of all its citizens, including non-indigenes, residing in any state. Addressing ethnic threats is not only about maintaining peace. It is essential for preserving the nation’s identity and ensuring a future where our diversity is a source of strength, not division. The government’s failure to act decisively risks plunging the country into avoidable chaos and undermining its aspirations for sustainable development.

*Ogunlana is a commentator on public issues