Security language key to ending ethnic profiling — Nigerian govt, experts

The Nigerian government and security experts have underscored the importance of using responsible language in security discussions as a way to curb ethnic profiling amid ongoing insecurity in the country.

Speaking through the National Counter Terrorism Center, NCTC, the Federal Government warned against the use of careless or imprecise terminology, noting that such language can encourage ethnic profiling, deepen societal divisions, and weaken trust across West Africa.

The concerns were raised during a recent two-day event in Abuja.

In his address, the National Coordinator of NCTC, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, emphasized the need to critically assess how language influences security outcomes in Nigeria.

Representing the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Laka said the way security issues are framed and communicated can either promote unity or heighten mistrust among communities.

He added that achieving lasting security goes beyond military action and should focus on prevention, building trust, and ensuring responsible communication.

According to him, stereotyping and ethnic profiling can hinder intelligence gathering and reduce cooperation between security agencies and local populations.

Similarly, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, highlighted the significant impact of language used in both security operations and media reporting on national cohesion.

Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Dili Ezughah, he warned that careless or inaccurate descriptions could reinforce stereotypes, widen divisions, and damage trust between citizens and institutions. He stressed the importance of distinguishing clearly between criminal acts and group identities.

Also speaking, Managing Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence, Kabir Adamu, alongside former security officer Brigadier-General Saleh Bala (retd.), noted that biased and identity-focused language often marginalizes groups and, in some cases, fuels hate narratives.