In a timely and powerful message that resonates with many Nigerians tired of division, Peter Obi, the former Anambra Governor and presidential candidate, has firmly spoken out against ethnic profiling. He reminded everyone that crime has no tribe, a thief is a thief, a kidnapper is a kidnapper, and a terrorist is a terrorist, regardless of where they come from.

In a statement shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, Obi urged Nigerians to resist the dangerous habit of judging entire communities or ethnic groups based on the actions of a few criminals. He stressed that this kind of stereotyping only deepens divisions and weakens our national unity.

Obi drew inspiration from the idea of judging people by the content of their character rather than the colour of their skin or, in this case, their ethnic background. He warned that blaming whole tribes for the sins of individuals creates unnecessary hatred   a tool often exploited by politicians for their own gain.

This message comes at a crucial time when tensions are high and insecurity continues to challenge different parts of the country. Recent incidents have sparked debates that quickly turn tribal, with some groups being unfairly targeted or stereotyped. Obi’s position is clear: every criminal must be held accountable as an individual, not used to tarnish an entire ethnicity or region.

Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity  hundreds of ethnic groups living under one flag. But when fear and frustration from crime lead to finger-pointing at tribes, we risk tearing ourselves apart instead of uniting to solve the real problems: poverty, unemployment, weak institutions, and poor governance that breed criminality in the first place.

Obi’s call promotes a mature, forward-thinking approach: focus on justice, good leadership, and equal opportunity for all. No tribe buys bread cheaper. No region suffers less from bad governance. We all feel the pain of insecurity and hardship.

As citizens, we must echo this message, reject ethnic profiling in our daily conversations, on social media, and in politics.