Lalong, Sultan, CAN caution against ethnoreligious profiling of criminals

May 20, 2021360 views0

Lalong, Sultan, CAN caution against ethnoreligious profiling of criminals

2021-05-20T16:23:57+01:00

By Bede

Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong has cautioned against ethnoreligious profiling of criminals, saying it is detrimental to national cohesion and growth.The governor in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, on Wednesday in Jos advised that for the achievement of peace and unity, Nigerians should kick against profiling of criminals along ethnic, religious and political affiliations.Speaking at the 2nd Quarter Meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja, with the theme “Ethnic, Religious and Political Profiling is Avoidable”, Lalong noted that Nigeria is a diverse country with people of different backgrounds, which should not be used against them in any way.He said: “We have to put humanity above any other consideration because when we judge people by their ethnicity, religion or other leanings, we miss their potentials because profiling influences the marginalisation of people without reason.”“For instance, we have to treat crime as crime and isolate criminals rather than covering their actions by where they come from or their religion. This further creates disunity and division”.Lalong reiterated his administration’s commitment to fairness in governance, by ensuring that people get what they deserve irrespective of their backgrounds.He said the gesture has facilitated peace and tolerance amongst people in Plateau while restoring calm in the state for more developmental programmes. He said the Plateau State Peace Building Agency and the Inter-Religious Council are tools his administration has deployed, to institutionalise peace efforts in the state for its sustainability.Other guests at the event include the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr Samson Ayokunle, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III who jointly agreed that the act of profiling wrongdoers in society by their religion, class or status undermine justice, and breeds inequity and division among the people, while also posing a threat to national development.