‘Fulanisation’ of kidnapping: Ethnic profiling of criminality in Nigeria

Nigeria has recently witnessed an increase in kidnapping for ransom. Fulani militants are considered a contemporary non-state armed group engaged in abduction for ransom. The ransom industry continues to flourish across geopolitical zones due to a wide range of factors that have provided an enabling environment for its prevalence. At the same time, the phenomenon of the ‘Fulanisation’ of kidnapping has become a common topic of discussion in public forums. This paper examines the criminalisation of ethnic identity, particularly in relation to the constructed narrative of ‘Fulanisation’. The implications of this narrative on peaceful coexistence are discussed. The paper utilises identity theory to explain the criminalisation of the Fulani ethnic group. Departing from popular narratives of collective criminalisation, the paper delves into the social imagery that poses a significant threat to Nigeria's social cohesion.