Letter to Ndigbo around the world

By Bola Adewara

Ethnic profiling is a cancer to national unity and global coexistence. It breeds suspicion, fuels discrimination, and undermines peace among peoples. As it is wrong and dangerous to stereotype all Fulani as violent herdsmen or killers, it is equally unjust, and profoundly reckless, to label all Igbo people as criminals. Criminality has no tribal identity; it is an individual moral failure, not an ethnic characteristic.

I am compelled to raise this alarm because of the increasing global tendency to associate the entire Igbo ethnic group with crime, particularly in international spaces. Reports from countries such as Malaysia, China, Vietnam, South Africa, Kenya, and others often highlight the troubling actions of a few misguided individuals of Igbo origin. Sadly, these isolated incidents are now being weaponized to brand an entire race, one of Nigeria’s most industrious and accomplished ethnic groups, as inherently criminal. This is not only false, it is a tragic injustice.

Let it be clear: no race or ethnic group is immune from bad eggs. Every community has its share of lawbreakers. But to elevate the bad behaviour of a few individuals into a global narrative of condemnation against an entire people is not just unfair, it is dangerous.

I therefore call on Ohanaeze Ndigbo, all South-East governors, federal lawmakers of Igbo extraction, Igbo traditional rulers, community leaders, and cultural custodians to rise swiftly and boldly. This is no time for silence or strategic avoidance. When people remain silent in the face of public condemnation, that silence begins to sound like consent. If this negative profiling is not checked, the consequences for future generations of Igbos in the diaspora will be devastating, from visa restrictions to job discrimination, surveillance, exclusion from leadership opportunities, and even outright harassment.

There is a disturbing trend in some parts of the world, where law enforcement agencies and immigration officers openly target Nigerians of Igbo origin with suspicion and contempt. A recent video circulating online features a Malaysian police officer publicly declaring that “the people bringing drugs into Malaysia from Nigeria are the Igbos.” This is a damning statement, true or false, it is a public relations disaster for Nigeria and for the Igbo nation. What is even more painful is that I have yet to hear a single response, condemnation, or strategic rebuttal from any respected Igbo leader or body. This is silence where there should be outrage.

Some of the cultural practices being exported to foreign countries by certain Igbo groups—such as the unregulated installation of Eze Ndigbo in foreign cities, may make sense within the context of Igbo culture and tradition. But when presented to people of other cultures, they can appear confusing, intimidating, or even threatening. Culture must be contextualized. It must be explained, engaged with humility, and lived with dignity, not with arrogance or braggadocio.

To every Igbo father and mother, to the sons and daughters on the Internet, this is not the time for ethnic chest-thumping or the exchange of insults. This is the time to own the narrative, to reclaim the name and dignity of your people. Explain your culture. Apologize for the excesses of the few. Denounce criminality boldly. Name it and shame it. Support efforts to identify and discipline those tarnishing the image of Ndigbo at home and abroad.

TO MY YORUBA BROTHERS AND SISTERS:

I urge restraint and wisdom. Do not join voices, whether from Ghana, South Africa, or elsewhere, in demonizing the Igbo race. The rivalry between Peter Obi and Bola Tinubu during the last elections must not be allowed to poison ethnic relations in Nigeria. Political disagreement should never become a tool for ethnic disintegration. Today it’s the Igbos; tomorrow it could be the Yorubas or the Hausas. If we allow ethnic division to fester, the enemies of peace and progress will consume us all. Unity is not optional, it is the lifeline of our fragile republic.

Let us not sell our brothers cheaply to external critics because of local politics. Let us not delight in the demonization of any Nigerian people because of past grievances or electoral defeats. Let us stand for truth, balance, and justice. Ghanaians, like every other nation, have their share of citizens involved in criminal activities abroad. Yet, they are not collectively condemned. Neither should Nigerians, especially the Igbos, be.

To the Federal Government of Nigeria: this is also your responsibility. Ethnic profiling against any group of Nigerians abroad must be met with swift diplomatic and legal response. Embassies must be proactive. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must take ownership of Nigeria’s image abroad and demand respect for the dignity of all Nigerian citizens, regardless of tribe or origin.

But more importantly, Igbo leaders must not outsource this responsibility. You must not pretend it is not happening. You must not defend the indefensible. The legacy of your fathers, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, Flora Nwapa, Chukwuemeka Ike, Phillip Emeagwali, and countless other luminaries, calls for action. These men and women gave the Igbo race honour on the global stage. You must not let that legacy be drowned in silence and shame.

The time to act is now. Speak up. Stand up. Clean up. Reclaim your name. Defend your legacy.

Nigeria cannot rise when one of her pillars is broken. And Ndigbo cannot remain silent when the world begins to whisper, then shout, that their name is synonymous with crime. May it never be said of this generation that they allowed such a lie to take root.

Let truth be spoken, let wrongdoers be confronted, and let honour be restored…,….,..Amen.

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