The Arewa Consultative Forum has criticised the alleged profiling, arrest and threatened deportation of northern women by operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, describing the action as unconstitutional and discriminatory.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Bashir Dalhatu, the forum expressed concern over a viral video allegedly showing Amotekun operatives arresting and publicly parading women identified as Hausa/Fulani residents of Ondo State.
The ACF said the development raised serious concerns about the rights of Nigerian citizens to live and work freely in any part of the country without discrimination.
According to the forum, attempts to intimidate or threaten Nigerians with deportation based on their ethnic origin undermine the provisions of the Constitution and pose a danger to national unity.
“The actions attributed to the operatives are disturbing and inconsistent with the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian citizen,” the statement noted.
The organisation stressed that the Constitution grants citizens the freedom to reside, move and engage in lawful activities anywhere within the federation, regardless of ethnicity, religion, language or place of birth.
It further argued that no state government, local authority or security outfit has the legal authority to deport Nigerians from one part of the country to another.
“Every Nigerian has equal rights and opportunities in every part of the federation.
There is no law that empowers any state institution to expel citizens from any region of the country,” the forum stated.
The northern socio-cultural group also expressed concern that the affected individuals appeared to be women engaged in legitimate economic and social activities, describing their alleged public humiliation as unacceptable in a democratic setting.
While acknowledging the security challenges confronting various parts of the country, the ACF urged authorities to rely on intelligence gathering, proper investigations and lawful enforcement procedures in addressing criminal activities.
It warned against ethnic profiling, noting that criminal conduct should be treated as an individual matter rather than a basis for targeting entire communities.
“Communities should not be stigmatised or criminalised because of the actions of a few individuals.
Such actions are unjust and capable of fuelling ethnic tensions,” the statement added.
The forum further cautioned that incidents of this nature could threaten peaceful coexistence, pointing out that many indigenes of Ondo State and the South-West reside and conduct business activities across northern Nigeria without facing harassment.
It called on the Ondo State Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and take appropriate action against any officials found to have acted outside the law.
The ACF also urged the Federal Government, security agencies and the National Human Rights Commission to examine the matter and ensure the protection of the constitutional rights of those affected.
The group said the incident highlights concerns surrounding the ongoing debate on state policing and underscored the need for robust legal safeguards to prevent abuse of power and discriminatory practices.
Reaffirming its position, the forum maintained that Nigeria belongs equally to all its citizens and that no Nigerian should be treated as a stranger in any part of the country.