Conference Charges Government On Ethnic Profiling

Participants of a conference on security have called on governments at all levels to take decisive steps to address ethnic profiling and stereotyping in security operations and public communication.

The call came at the end of a conference in Abuja where participants warned that the misuse of language in describing security threats continued to fuel division and weaken national cohesion.

The conference, organised by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited (BSIL) in collaboration with White Ink Institute for Strategy Education and Research (WISER), attracted policymakers, security professionals, civil society organisations, media practitioners and members of the diplomatic community.

Participants highlighted the risks associated with linking ethnic and cultural identities to criminality, noting that such narratives often distort public perception and undermine effective security responses.

The founder and president of WISER, Brig. Gen. Saleh Bala (rtd) and managing director of BSIL, Dr. Kabir Adamu, said the initiative was designed to challenge harmful stereotypes and promote responsible communication in the security space.

They emphasised that inaccurate and generalised descriptions of threats could erode trust and deepen societal divisions, stressing the need for more precise and context-driven language in both security operations and media reporting.

Discussions at the conference, which featured six sessions, examined the causes of identity-based violence, the legal implications of terminology, the media’s role in shaping conflict narratives and the operational impact of how armed groups are classified.

“The way we describe threats has real consequences. It can either build trust or deepen suspicion. There is a need to adopt language that supports peacebuilding and respects human dignity,” discussants said.

The event formed part of a broader initiative supported by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK-FCDO) under its Strengthening Peacebuilding and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme.

It also received support from key institutions, including the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).

One of the major outcomes of the conference is the planned development of two policy documents—an Anti-Ethnic Stereotyping and Profiling Toolkit and a National Policy Brief—aimed at guiding security agencies, policymakers, and the media on the use of non-stigmatising and effective language.

Dr. Adamu described the initiative as a critical step toward building a more inclusive and people-centred security framework in Nigeria and across West Africa.

Brig. Gen. Bala, on his part, urged the federal and state governments, ECOWAS, civil society organisations and development partners to support the implementation of the conference’s recommendations, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.

He added that the proposed toolkit and policy brief would be submitted to relevant institutions to serve as practical guides for improving security communication and strengthening national unity.

“Our goal is to ensure that these tools become living frameworks that shape how we communicate, act, and build trust across communities,” Adamu said.