• Dangers of Profiling: The NSCIA argued that associating criminal activities with Islam or Muslims is dangerous, unjust, and likely to worsen mistrust among citizens.

• Weakening National Unity: Giving crimes ethnic or religious colorations risks creating unnecessary tension and weakening the country’s unity.

• The Orire Incident: Citing a recent kidnapping in Oyo State’s Orire Local Government Area, the council noted that premature attempts to link the crime to a specific group proved to be inaccurate, highlighting the danger of speculating before security agencies conclude their investigations.

• Focus on Criminality: The council maintained that suspects must be identified and prosecuted based on concrete evidence rather than their religion, ethnicity, or origin; crime should be addressed as a criminal act, not the behavior of an entire group.

Calls for Responsibility and Cooperation

• Media Caution: The NSCIA urged public commentators, opinion leaders, and the media to exercise extreme caution in their reporting, avoiding narratives that could deepen hatred or division.

• Security and Peace: While condemning all forms of violence, the council commended the Federal Government’s efforts against insecurity and called for enhanced cooperation between citizens, community leaders, religious bodies, and security agencies.

Protest Against Stigmatization in Oyo

In a related development, members of the Hausa community in Ibadan staged a protest on June 10, 2026, to speak out against ethnic profiling and stigmatization. Following the abduction of 46 students and teachers in the state, the protesters expressed concern that their ethnic group was being unfairly blamed for the crimes. The Hausa residents emphasized that they are law-abiding citizens who have lived peacefully in the state for years and argued that criminal acts should be handled individually rather than being used to target an entire ethnic community.

Panel Investigation and Findings

Established in September 2024, the committee spent months investigating the correctional system by inspecting 86 facilities across 23 states and the FCT, holding public hearings, and visiting Türkiye. The investigation uncovered several critical issues regarding inmate welfare:

• Malnutrition and Inadequate Funding: Feeding was identified as a major concern, with investigations revealing that inadequate budgets and poor resource management led to severe malnutrition and grossly insufficient food portions.

• Regional Reports: In Imo State, the Owerri Correctional Centre reportedly provided severely limited food, while in Akwa Ibom State, poor feeding was linked to inmate deaths.

• Contract Irregularities: The panel uncovered that many feeding contracts were awarded to companies located far from the facilities they served, leading to subcontracting arrangements where feeding responsibilities were passed down at rates far below government-approved levels.

• Conflict of Interest: There were allegations that retired and serving correctional officers, politicians, and other influential figures were connected to the feeding contract process.

• Systemic Concerns: The report noted that individuals benefiting from these supply contracts might be disincentivized from supporting prison decongestion or agricultural initiatives that would reduce reliance on outside vendors.

Recommendations and Future Reforms

To address these challenges, the panel provided several recommendations aimed at improving the correctional system:

• Increased Allowance: An immediate increase in the daily feeding allowance to ₦3,000 per inmate to align with current economic conditions.

• Infrastructure Improvement: Modernizing correctional farm centres to boost internal food production and decrease dependence on external suppliers.

• Enhanced Accountability: Strengthening transparency in contract administration to improve inmate welfare and support broader systemic reforms.