Some Northerners residing in South-West Nigeria have expressed concern over what they describe as growing stigmatisation, saying many law-abiding residents are being unfairly associated with criminal activities.
The concerns come amid rising insecurity in parts of the country, with community members calling for greater understanding and unity among Nigerians.
One resident said many Northerners living in the South-West are often unfairly labelled as bandits or members of terrorist groups because of the actions of a few criminal elements.
“We are being tagged bandits, Boko Haram,” the resident lamented.
Residents Seek Peaceful Coexistence
Members of the community stressed that the majority of Northerners living in the South-West are engaged in legitimate businesses and contribute positively to their host communities.
They urged Nigerians to avoid profiling people based on ethnicity, region, or occupation, warning that such stereotypes could deepen divisions and weaken national unity.
According to them, many Northern families have lived in South-West communities for decades and have built strong relationships with their neighbours.
Call for National Unity
Community leaders appealed to security agencies and the general public to distinguish between criminal elements and innocent citizens, regardless of their ethnic or regional background.
They maintained that addressing insecurity requires collective action, intelligence-driven policing, and community cooperation rather than broad generalisations.
The leaders also called for increased dialogue among different ethnic groups to strengthen trust, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence.
While acknowledging the security challenges facing the country, they insisted that branding entire communities as criminals is unfair and could undermine efforts aimed at promoting unity and national development.
Police Rescue Kidnap Victims
In a related development, the Nigeria Police Force recently rescued Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, following a coordinated operation.
The victims, who are relatives of former Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu, were abducted on June 3, 2026, while travelling to drop the children at school. They were successfully rescued after several days in captivity.
