Former Kaduna Central Senator and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Shehu Sani, has expressed outrage after images surfaced showing some residents of Katsina State taking selfies with a bandit.
Sani, who shared his reaction on his official X account on Thursday, September 4, 2025, described the act as “sad and unfortunate,” noting that it reflects the deepening complexities in the fight against insecurity in northern Nigeria.
According to reports, the controversial photographs were taken after a peace accord meeting between bandits and some community representatives in Katsina State.
The dialogue was said to have been convened in the aftermath of deadly attacks on villages, including an assault on a mosque that left several worshippers dead.
“It is sad and unfortunate to see some people in Katsina state taking selfie with a bandit,” Sani wrote, lamenting what he perceived as the normalization of criminality in communities constantly ravaged by violence.
The former lawmaker argued that such actions undermine the efforts of security agencies and government officials working to restore peace. He warned that celebrating or glamourizing outlaws through photographs risks emboldening them further while deepening the trauma of victims.
The post quickly attracted reactions across social media. Supporters of Sani echoed his concerns, with many condemning the residents for what they described as insensitivity to the pain of those killed or displaced by bandit attacks. “Taking selfies with murderers is not reconciliation, it is mockery of justice,” one X user wrote.
Others, however, defended the residents, suggesting that the photos were not necessarily an endorsement of banditry but an attempt at securing peace through engagement. Some argued that communities under constant threat often adopt unconventional strategies in hopes of survival.
Katsina, the home state of former President Muhammadu Buhari, remains one of the states most affected by banditry in the North-West.
Despite repeated military operations, attacks on villages, abductions, and killings have persisted, forcing thousands of residents into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
Sani, a vocal critic of both federal and state handling of security challenges, insisted that while dialogue may be a necessary tool, it must be approached with caution and dignity. He stressed that victims deserve justice, not spectacle.
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