Vice President Kashim Shettima has cautioned Nigerians against attributing the actions of criminals to entire ethnic or religious communities, insisting that those behind violent attacks do not represent any tribe, religion or culture.
He warned that profiling innocent people based on the activities of a few only fuels division and undermines efforts to restore lasting peace across the country.
Speaking on Saturday at the 80th birthday celebration and public presentation of the autobiography of former Plateau State Governor, Senator Jonah David Jang, in Jos, the Vice President said criminals should be treated as individuals and not as representatives of any community.
He stressed that when innocent citizens are blamed for the crimes of criminals, the country inadvertently strengthens those who profit from violence and insecurity.
Shettima also called on the younger generation in Plateau State to reject inherited bitterness and embrace peace, noting that many youths have become burdened with conflicts they neither started nor understood.
He urged elders and community leaders, particularly Senator Jang, to continue mentoring young people by teaching them the value of forgiveness, dialogue and reconciliation, describing forgiveness as a greater virtue than revenge.
Lamenting the impact of years of violence on Plateau communities, the Vice President said insecurity had turned once-fertile farmlands into places of mourning, emptied markets of economic activities and replaced trust with fear and suspicion.
Despite the challenges, he commended the resilience of the people of Plateau for refusing to surrender to hatred and violence.
Shettima described Plateau as a state of strategic importance to Nigeria’s unity and security architecture and paid tribute to Senator Jang for his decades of service to the nation.
He urged Nigerians to remain united in building a country where peace, justice and security prevail over ethnic divisions, adding that while political offices are temporary, the lasting legacy of every leader lies in the positive impact made on the lives of the people.
