Ethnic profiling: Group cautions against discrimination, calls for MC Oluomo’s arrest

From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

A human rights group, People’s Rights Organisation (PRO) has cautioned the federal government and security agencies against the discriminatory arrest of any individual involved in ethnic profiling in Lagos State.

This is even as it has urged the federal government to arrest Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo over what it has alleged as an inciting utterance against Igbo living in Lagos State prior to the Presidential and National assembly elections in the State.

Addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the Executive Director of PRO, Christian Nwadigbo frowned at the arrest of the Eze Igbo of Ajao Estate in Lagos, Eze Frederick Nwajagu while Akinsanya and others alleged to have made incisive comments before the elections have not been arrested.

He said “The tragic event of the 18th March 2023, in Lagos State during the governorship and house of assembly polls where the electorates identified as Igbos or resembling the Igbos were beaten brutalised, manhandled, disenfranchised by thugs across the length and breadth of Lagos has remained as a cancerous sore in the conscience of Nigeria and indeed Africa.

“In areas predominantly inhabited by Igbos, ballot boxes were snatched at gunpoint and destroyed, mayhem and terror were unleashed on all those profiled as Igbos and the security agencies offered little or no succour “. Nwandigbo claimed.

However, while kicking totally against the whole process of the March 18 election, the activist has suggested that the new political culture of Nigeria must be based on human rights values, norms and standards ” to the effect that members of every political party and their followers should be subjected to basic human rights training.

He further explained “This would enable the citizens to contribute significantly to building human culture in Nigeria. This is because research has shown that the human rights framework is the ultimate guideline to chart an assured future of any forward-looking nation and it’s a powerful tool for action against the current social disintegration, poverty and intolerance prevalent in Nigeria.”