Security experts have warned that ethnic stereotyping threatens national unity and have unveiled a new toolkit to combat harmful labels in security operations.
The warning came at the close of a two-day conference on ethnic profiling in West Africa, held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Organised by Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited (BSIL) and the Whiteink Institute for Strategy Education and Research (WISER), the event brought together security chiefs, lawmakers, diplomats, and media practitioners.
Speaking at the closing session, WISER President, Brig. Gen. Saleh Bala (Retired), and BSIL Managing Director, Dr Kabir Adamu, condemned the use of ethnic labels in security discourse.
“Flawed narratives and lazy categorisations often equate specific cultural identities with threats,” they said.
“This conference is a deliberate effort to correct that by promoting accurate, responsible, and context-based use of language.”
They noted that such labels have real-world consequences.
“The way we describe threats can either promote understanding and trust or deepen division and suspicion,” the experts added.
“We must choose language that supports peacebuilding and respects human dignity.”
The conference produced two major policy resources:
· Anti-ethnic Stereotyping and Profiling Toolkit
· National Policy Brief on Non-Stigmatising Security Language
Dr. Adamu said the documents would guide security agencies, the media, and policymakers.
“By addressing harmful labelling, we are laying the foundation for a more inclusive, people-centred security framework,” he stated.
Brig. Gen. Bala called on the Federal Government, state governments, ECOWAS, and civil society to adopt the recommendations — especially ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We urge all stakeholders to take ownership of these recommendations and extend them across subnational levels,” he said.
The finalised toolkit and policy brief would be submitted to relevant national institutions in the coming weeks.
The conference was supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office under its SPRiNG peacebuilding programme.
Partners included the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the Federal Ministry of Information, and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution.
The organisers confirmed that security agencies and media houses would receive training on the new guidelines.
“These tools are living frameworks that will guide how we communicate, how we act, and how we build trust across communities,” Dr. Adamu concluded.
Top officials at the event included:
· Major Gen. A.G. Laka – NCTC National Coordinator
· The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris
· Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim – Women Affairs Minister
· Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu – Chief of Army Staff
· Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi – Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security
· Sen. Abdulaziz Musa Yaradua – Chairman, Senate Committee on Army
· Dr. Joseph Ochogwu – DG, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution
· H.E. Moses Rugema – Rwanda’s Ambassador
· H.E. Dr. Jose Bamoquina Zau – Angola’s Ambassador and Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo – UKHC SPRING Team Leader