Language's Role in Curbing Ethnic Profiling in Nigeria

The Nigerian government, alongside security experts, has highlighted the critical role of language in combating ethnic profiling amid ongoing insecurity in the country. During a recent two-day event in Abuja, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, the National Coordinator of the Nigerian Counter Terror Center (NCTC), warned against the use of careless and imprecise terminology that could encourage ethnic profiling and deepen societal divisions.

He emphasized that the language used in security discussions can either promote unity or heighten mistrust among communities. Nuhu Ribadu, a representative from the National Security Advisory, echoed these sentiments, stating that effective security measures must go beyond military action and focus on building trust within communities.

Dili Ezughah, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, cautioned that inaccurate descriptions can reinforce stereotypes and damage trust between citizens and institutions. The discussion also included insights from Kabir Adamu, Managing Director of Beacon Security Intelligence, and Brigadier General Saleh Bala (retd), who noted that biased language often marginalizes certain groups and fuels negative narratives.