IGP Disu Warns Against Ethnic, Religious Profiling in Fight Against Insecurity.

Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has cautioned Nigerians against ethnic and religious profiling in the fight against insecurity, insisting that criminality has no ethnicity and terrorism has no religion.

Disu made the call while delivering the opening address at the North-West Security Summit held in Gusau, Zamfara State, where stakeholders gathered to discuss the security challenges confronting the region.

The Inspector-General urged citizens and security stakeholders to focus on identifying and dismantling criminal networks rather than associating criminal activities with particular ethnic or religious groups.

He specifically called for the identification and prosecution of criminal networks, their sponsors, arms suppliers, informants and facilitators, regardless of their background or affiliation.

Disu’s position comes amid persistent security challenges across parts of the North-West, including banditry, kidnapping, arms proliferation and communal conflicts. The region has continued to face complex security threats requiring cooperation among security agencies, governments and local communities.

The IGP stressed that tackling the challenges would require an intelligence-led and coordinated approach, rather than relying on profiling communities or individuals based on their ethnic or religious identities.

He also called for stronger intelligence sharing among security agencies and greater cooperation between states in the region. According to him, no single security agency, government or institution can secure the North-West on its own.

The police leadership is seeking improved coordination of security operations, stronger border security, community engagement and effective early-warning mechanisms as part of efforts to prevent and respond to emerging threats.

Traditional rulers and local communities were also identified as important partners in the security effort. Disu stressed the need for credible information from communities to help security agencies identify threats and prevent crimes before they escalate.

The summit, hosted by the Zamfara State Government, brought together governors, traditional rulers, security chiefs, security experts, development partners, civil society representatives and other stakeholders.

The participants deliberated on major security concerns affecting the North-West, including banditry, kidnapping, arms proliferation, communal conflicts and farmer-herder tensions.

The IGP’s call for an inclusive approach reflects the growing need for security responses that target perpetrators and criminal networks rather than entire communities.

Disu maintained that the fight against insecurity should be based on intelligence, cooperation and accountability, with individuals involved in criminal activities brought to justice irrespective of their identity or affiliation.

He urged stakeholders across the region to strengthen collaboration and ensure that information capable of preventing attacks and other criminal activities reaches security agencies promptly.