Banditry: Criminality Has No Tribe, APC Tells Obasanjo, Others

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other national leaders against comments capable of inflaming ethnic tensions over the country’s security challenges, insisting that criminality should not be associated with any particular tribe.

The ruling party made the appeal amid continued concerns over killings, kidnappings, banditry and attacks attributed to suspected armed herders and other criminal groups in different parts of the country.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the APC acknowledged growing public anxiety over violent crimes, particularly the killing of Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Afenifere leader Reuben Fasoranti.

The party expressed condolences to Fasoranti’s family and joined President Muhammadu Buhari and other Nigerians in mourning her death.

According to the APC, losing a loved one under violent circumstances was deeply painful and deserved the sympathy of all Nigerians.

The party, however, said it was concerned about what it described as provocative statements attributed to some political and national leaders following the incident.

It warned that inflammatory rhetoric could be dangerous in a multi-ethnic country such as Nigeria and urged citizens and leaders to avoid generalising criminal activities on the basis of ethnicity.

The APC said terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other violent crimes should be condemned regardless of the ethnic, religious or regional background of the perpetrators.

It argued that criminals should be identified and prosecuted for their individual actions rather than having entire ethnic communities blamed for their offences.

“There is nothing like an Isoko, Gwari or Awori robber because criminality has no tribe in the eyes of the law,” the party said.

The APC warned that ethnic profiling could deepen divisions and create conditions for wider conflict.

It recalled that some of the world’s worst episodes of mass violence were preceded by prejudice and systematic profiling of particular racial, political or cultural groups and urged Nigerians to avoid actions that could push the country in a similar direction.

The party rejected the idea that members of any ethnic group should be prevented from living or working in any part of Nigeria.

It maintained that every Nigerian should be able to reside and pursue legitimate activities anywhere in the country without fear of discrimination or violence.

The APC also urged political, religious and traditional leaders to exercise restraint in their public statements, particularly when discussing sensitive security and ethnic issues.

It accused some former public officeholders of exploiting insecurity for political purposes despite what it described as their own failure to effectively address similar challenges while in government.

The party argued that political disagreement should not be allowed to degenerate into rhetoric capable of encouraging hatred or intolerance.

It therefore called on the Buhari administration, the National Assembly, religious and traditional institutions, political leaders and other stakeholders to remain focused on finding peaceful and lawful solutions to the country’s security problems.

The APC acknowledged that Nigerians might disagree on several national issues but maintained that such differences should be addressed through dialogue and legitimate democratic processes.

It also urged security agencies to intensify efforts to combat kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, terrorism and other violent crimes across the country.

The party maintained that tackling insecurity required cooperation among Nigerians rather than blaming entire communities for crimes committed by individuals or organised criminal groups.