The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, has faulted Channels Television over what it described as misleading and insensitive captioning in its report of a bomb attack on a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State.
In a statement released on Thursday and signed by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, MPAC said the attack occurred at a mosque situated within a market in Maiduguri, leaving five Muslim worshippers dead and more than 35 others injured.
The organisation described the incident as a brutal attack on civilians engaged in worship, adding that security agencies and public authorities had condemned the act as barbaric and reprehensible.
MPAC alleged that Channels Television failed to clearly identify the site of the attack as a mosque or acknowledge the Muslim identity of the victims in its report. Instead, the group said the broadcaster introduced a reference to “Christmas Eve,” which it described as unrelated to the incident and potentially inflammatory.
According to MPAC, the reference to Christmas was inserted after the initial publication of the report, raising concerns that it may have been aimed at provoking emotional reactions, boosting engagement, or inflaming religious tensions in an already fragile security environment.
The group contrasted Channels Television’s coverage with that of several international media outlets, which it said accurately reported the incident as an attack on a mosque and on Muslim worshippers, without sensational framing.
MPAC also accused the broadcaster of a pattern of bias in its reportage, alleging that attacks involving Muslim victims are often downplayed or stripped of their religious context, while narratives capable of fostering suspicion or hostility toward Muslims are amplified.
Describing the Maiduguri mosque bombing as a national tragedy, MPAC said media coverage should have prioritised the victims and the humanitarian impact of the attack rather than what it termed editorial sensationalism.
The organisation called on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to investigate Channels Television’s editorial conduct and impose appropriate sanctions in line with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. It also demanded a public explanation and retraction from the broadcaster, including a correction that accurately reflects the nature of the attack and the identity of the victims.
In addition, MPAC urged relevant security agencies to determine whether the framing of the report was intended to provoke religious tension or public disorder. The group further called on media organisations to recommit to ethical journalism based on accuracy, balance and social responsibility.
“This is not about suppressing press freedom. It is about protecting public trust and preventing narratives that can deepen divisions and endanger lives,” the statement said.