‎ATTACKS IN THE NORTH WERE BLAMED ON BANDITS;BUT ATTACK IN ANAMBRA WAS POINTED TO UNKNOWN GUNMEN- SHEHU SANI . (PHOTO).

 ‎Attacks in the North Were Blamed on Bandits;But Attack in Anambra Was Pointed to Unknown Gunmen- Shehu Sani 

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‎Senator Shehu Sani has criticised what he describes as inconsistent media labeling of violent attacks across Nigeria, faulting the tendency to use selective descriptions depending on the region affected. In a post shared on his official X handle on Monday, December 8th, 2025, the former Kaduna lawmaker drew attention to how similar crimes are reported differently in the North and the South-East.

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‎Sani noted that when violent incidents occur in northern states, attackers are immediately identified as “Bandits” or “Terrorists,” a naming pattern he considers straightforward and accurate. However, he argued that when similar acts happen in parts of the South-East, particularly Anambra State, the media commonly resorts to vague descriptions such as “armed assailants,” “hoodlums,” “gunmen,” or “unknown gunmen.”

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‎His comments followed a recent deadly incident in Anambra, where an attack on a church reportedly claimed two lives and resulted in buildings being set ablaze. According to Sani, despite the severity of the event, media reports avoided definitive classifications.

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‎He described both cases as the same murderous act and criminality, calling attention to what he considers a double standard in media reportage. The senator suggested that such selective language may contribute to confusion, weaken accountability, and hinder efforts to tackle insecurity uniformly across Nigeria.

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‎Sani’s remarks reflect persistent national debates over security narratives, regional sentiment, and how language impacts public perception and counterterrorism strategies.