A group known as the Concerned Fulani People of Nigeria has raised fresh concerns over what it described as dangerous ethnic profiling in discussions around insecurity in the country, warning that narratives linking violence solely to Fulani communities could worsen tensions and undermine national unity.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Ibrahim Barkindo Chubado, the group urged international actors, particularly the United States, to avoid framing the Fulani ethnic group as the central driver of banditry, terrorism and communal violence in Nigeria. The group said such portrayals risk fueling mistrust at a time the country continues to battle multiple security challenges across different regions.

According to the statement, earlier international assessments had cautioned against broad generalisations involving ethnicity and religion, especially during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The group argued that repeated references to Fulani militancy in public discourse contributed to attacks on innocent herders and settlements in parts of the North-Central and southern states.

The organisation also pointed to recurring clashes in Benue, Plateau and Taraba states, saying many Fulani families living in those communities had resided there for generations. It maintained that herder-farmer conflicts were often driven by disputes over land use, environmental pressures, grazing access and local political tensions rather than ethnicity alone.

Referencing previous security incidents in Ekiti, Ondo and Edo states, the group said some early accusations directed at Fulani communities were later disputed by security findings. It specifically mentioned the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, noting that while initial reactions blamed Fulani herders, Defence Headquarters later linked the attack to criminal elements associated with an Ebira subgroup.

The group further expressed concern over reports attributed to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom alleging the existence of thousands of armed Fulani militants in Nigeria. It called for evidence-based reporting and urged both Nigerian authorities and international partners to pursue solutions that promote fairness, stronger law enforcement and national cohesion, warning that insecurity in the country cannot be addressed through ethnic scapegoating or divisive narratives.