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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Criminals have no tribe, religion, says Shettima

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima stated that criminals perpetrating violence in Plateau State are not representative of any tribe or religion.
  • He urged the youth to reject inherited hatred and embrace peace and reconciliation, cautioning against ethnic and religious profiling.
  • Shettima emphasized that holding entire communities responsible for the actions of criminals deepens divisions and benefits those who profit from violence.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has firmly stated that the perpetrators of violent attacks in Plateau State do not represent any specific tribe or religion, urging against ethnic and religious profiling. Speaking at the 80th birthday celebration and book launch of former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang in Jos, Shettima stressed the importance of rejecting inherited hatred and fostering peace and reconciliation among the youth.

Criminals have no tribe or religion and I urge the younger generation to reject inherited hatred and embrace peace and reconciliation.

— Kashim ShettimaAddressing the issue of ethnic and religious profiling in relation to criminal activities.

"Criminals have no tribe or religion," Shettima declared, directly addressing the younger generation. He warned that those committing atrocities act without the mandate of any community, representing no religion, ethnicity, or culture. He cautioned that condemning innocent people for the sins of criminals only serves to deepen societal divisions and ultimately grants victory to those who thrive on violence.

Those carrying out these atrocities have no mandate from any community. They represent no religion, no ethnicity and no culture. When innocent people are condemned for the sins of criminals, we deepen our divisions and hand victory to those who profit from violence.

— Kashim ShettimaExplaining the dangers of collective blame and its impact on societal divisions.

The Vice President expressed concern over young people in Plateau carrying the burden of conflicts they did not initiate. He appealed to elders, including Senator Jang, to guide the youth towards forgiveness, noting that "The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong," quoting Mahatma Gandhi.

The young men and women of Plateau have inherited baggage they did not create. They carry the grievances of a generation they never met and the quarrels of a history they never wrote.

— Kashim ShettimaHighlighting the burden of past conflicts on the current youth generation.

Shettima lamented the devastating impact of years of violence on Plateau's communities, describing how fertile lands turned into mourning grounds and markets lost their vibrancy. Despite these hardships, he acknowledged the resilience of the people of Plateau, who have "refused to surrender their humanity." He urged elder statesmen to continue mentoring the youth, emphasizing the enduring value of service and positive impact over temporary power.

The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.

— Kashim ShettimaQuoting Mahatma Gandhi to emphasize the strength found in forgiveness.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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