ETHNIC PROFILING AND COUNTERINSURGENCY: BIAS IN NIGERIA’S ANTI-BANDITRY AND ANTI-KIDNAPPING OPERATIONS

Abstract

This study examined the influence of ethnic profiling and counterinsurgency on anti-banditry and anti-kidnapping operations in Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna States, North-West Nigeria. The study was guided by Labelling Theory and Critical Security Studies, which provided complementary perspectives for explaining how ethnic identities become associated with criminality and how security threats are socially and institutionally constructed. A qualitative documentary research design was adopted, using thematic analysis of nine scholarly, institutional, government, international, book, and credible media sources. Five themes emerged: ethnic profiling and threat assessment; intelligence gathering and community cooperation; operational effectiveness; human rights and social cohesion; and intelligence-led and community-centred security. Findings show that ethnic profiling may distort threat assessment, weaken community trust and intelligence sharing, divert attention from identifiable criminal networks, and undermine human rights and social cohesion. The study further found that banditry and kidnapping are multidimensional problems involving organised criminality, poverty, arms proliferation, resource conflicts, weak governance, and limited state presence. The study concludes that sustainable security requires evidence-based threat assessment, intelligence-led operations, inter-agency coordination, community participation, accountability, and attention to underlying socioeconomic conditions. Hence, the study recommends reducing reliance on ethnic categorisation and strengthening intelligence-driven and community-centred security practices.