ACF tackles Amotekun over alleged ethnic profiling, deportation threat against northern women in Ondo

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the alleged arrest, profiling and public parade of northern women by operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun, describing the action as unconstitutional, discriminatory and a threat to Nigeria’s unity.

The outrage followed the circulation of a viral video purportedly showing Amotekun operatives detaining a group of Northern women and allegedly threatening to deport them from Ondo State.

In a statement by its Board of Trustees chairman, Bashir M. Dalhatu, the ACF said no Nigerian citizen should be treated as a stranger in any part of the country, stressing that the Constitution guarantees freedom of movement, residence and lawful economic activities regardless of ethnic or regional background.

“The attempt to profile, intimidate and threaten fellow Nigerians with deportation has no basis in law and is wholly incompatible with Nigeria’s constitutional order,” the forum declared.

The ACF expressed particular concern that the victims were reportedly women engaged in legitimate economic activities, warning that ethnic profiling and public humiliation of citizens could fuel tension and undermine national cohesion.

While acknowledging the security challenges facing many states, the forum insisted that crime-fighting must be intelligence-driven and evidence-based, rather than targeting entire communities because of the actions of a few individuals.

The Northern socio-political body also cautioned that actions perceived as ethnic discrimination could trigger retaliatory sentiments in other parts of the country, noting that thousands of South-West residents live and work peacefully across Northern Nigeria.

The forum called on the Ondo State Government to investigate the incident, publicly clarify the circumstances surrounding the operation and sanction any officials found to have acted outside the law.

It further urged the Federal Government, security agencies and the National Human Rights Commission to examine the matter and ensure that the rights of the affected women are protected.

The ACF said the controversy had also re-ignited concerns about the proposed establishment of state police, arguing that stronger constitutional and institutional safeguards were necessary to prevent abuse of power and ethnic discrimination.

“Nigeria belongs equally to all Nigerians. No citizen should ever be treated as an alien in his or her own country,” the statement added.