PeacePro Calls for Media to Avoid Titles for Terrorists

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has called on Nigerian media organizations to refrain from using terms such as "commanders" or "leaders" when referring to terrorists and bandits. Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the executive director of PeacePro, stated that armed criminals controlling others do not qualify as legitimate leaders or military commanders.

He emphasized that such terminology can inadvertently grant authority and status to criminals, which is problematic. PeacePro insists that while journalists can describe the operational control within terrorist organizations, they should avoid adopting the preferred titles of these groups.

The organization warned that the repeated use of terms like "commander" and "leader" could normalize terrorism and shift public discourse to elevate perpetrators over their victims. The statement underscores the media's responsibility to report accurately on criminal organizations without legitimizing their actions through language.