Beyond Ethnicity: Confronting Nigeria’s Growing Security Threat By Jamiu A. Olamilekan

Nigeria’s security crisis has escalated, with reports of up to 30,000 armed Fulani militants operating across the country. Communities in the Middle Belt, North-West, and other regions face deadly attacks that have killed residents, displaced thousands, and crippled farming and business. Jamiu A. Olamilekan, in a piece published yesterday, warns against conflating criminality with ethnicity. "It would be both unfair and dangerous to equate an entire ethnic group with the activities of violent criminals," he wrote, noting that millions of law-abiding Fulani citizens work in agriculture, commerce, and public service. The article argues that insecurity involves complex networks of local collaborators across ethnic and regional lines, and that the focus must remain on prosecuting criminals based on individual responsibility. The ease with which groups acquire sophisticated weapons further underscores the need for a robust national response to protect lives, unity, and economic stability.