Controversial Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has urged Nigerian journalists to stop describing bandits Terrorising the northern parts of the country as criminals.
Gumi disclosed this when he featured on a programme on Arise Television on Thursday, monitored by Sahara Reporters.
The cleric said the media is adding to the insecurity problem by the names they use in describing the bandits.
He said if the media wants them to surrender, they should not be castigated and referred to as criminals but rather, nice words should be used to describe them.
“You’re emphasising on criminality, even the press are criminals too because they are putting oil into fire. These people are listening to you, you should not address them as criminals if you want them to succumb,” he said.