AUDIENCE ASSESSMENT OF AIT AND NTA REPORTAGE OF THE BOKO HARAM CRISIS IN THE NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA

AUDIENCE ASSESSMENT OF AIT AND NTA REPORTAGE OF THE BOKO HARAM CRISIS IN THE NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The general objective of this study was to examine the  audience assessment of AIT and NTA reportage the Boko Haram crisis in the North Eastern Nigeria. In attempt to achieve this, the study sought to find out the formats adopted by AIT and NTA in reporting the Boko Haram crisis, to know the factors responsible for the differences in the reports given to the Boko Haram crisis by AIT and NTA, to ascertain which of the broadcast stations (AIT or NTA) is playing more of the surveillance function of the media in the reportage of the Boko Haram crisis, to find out the broadcast station (AIT or NTA) that has so far displayed higher level of accuracy, truth and fairness in reporting the Boko Haram crisis. And to ascertain which of the two broadcast stations (AIT or NTA) is helping the more to resolve the Boko Haram crisis through its reports. The researcher adopted the survey research method; this method was adopted because it helped to elicit responses from the sample respondents through the use of direct observation, questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaire was used as the main instrument for data collection. The questionnaire contained both structured and unstructured questions which were geared towards answering the research questions. Thus, the instrument was administered to the respondents physically. Data obtained from the study was presented and analyzed using tables and descriptive statistics for easy understanding and clarification. The findings of the study revealed that both AIT and NTA use the formats of straight news, documentaries, discussions/phone in programmes, and commercials to report the Boko Haram crisis and that factor such as ownership influence, economic factor, political factor and regional influence affects the reportage of Boko Haram crisis. Finally the research recommends that the media (AIT and NTA) should include more of discussion/analytical programmes where in-depth and incisive discussions will be held with conflict experts, victims and the residents of the area who are eye-witnesses of the conflict as this will help create proper understanding of the issues at stake in order to facilitate early resolution of conflicts.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

One fundamental impediment to the advancement of any society is conflict. Conflict encourages stagnation as well as retrogression of the socio-economic constructions of any given society. It equally engenders acrimony and hatred amongst the inhabitants of such society. Scholars versed in Development Communication. Bright (2010) and Charles (2009),Kane (2010) have contended that no development agenda (be it political, economic, social, etc) can thrive in the face of crisis. They further affirm that crisis dethrones developmental quests, while further impoverishing the people.

This is the unfortunate and pitiable situation of Nigeria as of today. Boko Haram sect has not only waged war against the Nigerian State but has crippled the social, economic, religious and political blocks needed for development. Crisis has become synonymous with the political entity called Nigeria. In fact, it has become integral part of her structure. Right from the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates by Lord Luggard in 1914, the country has known no peace. It has been one form of crisis in the North or the other in the South with many of them having ethno-religious colourations. These crises, no doubt, cannot be divorced from the multi-ethnic and religious nature of Nigeria (Osaghae, 2005).

In Nigeria, religion has become the bane of her unity, peace and development. Religious crisis has become a reoccurring decimal, especially in the fourth Republic of Nigeria. Religious related violence and killings to achieve some political or religious ends are certainly not a new phenomenon, especially in Northern part of the country. Of all the ethnic and religious related crises that have so far rocked Nigeria after the civil war, none has threatened the very foundation of the Nigerian State like the current onslaught by the Boko Haram sect. The Sect which is officially known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-jihad (Arabic language) has orchestrated series of deadly attacks which have left hundreds of lives dead and properties destroyed. These attacks, which started in July 2009 when the Nigerian Police started investigating the sect following reports that it was arming itself, have gone sophisticated with bombs detonation every now and then and most of which have been suicide bombings(Osaghae, 2005).

The sect which opposes western education, culture, modern science and technology was formed in 2002 by late Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri, Borno State. Boko Haram, which literally means western education (Boko) is sinful (Haram), is believed by many as a break-away from the deadly Maitatsine Group of 1980s was said to have taken over the leadership after the departure of Abubakar.

To nip the festering Boko Haram crisis in the bud, the late president Umaru Yar’Adua ordered the deployment of the military to contain the dissidents. After initial resistance, Boko Haram fell to the superior fire power of the military, and Yusuf, its leader, was arrested and handed over to the police. Hours later, police executed Yusuf alongside his alleged sponsor, Alhaji Buji Foi, who was the Commissioner for Religious Affairs during the first term of former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff of Borno State (Ibrahim, 2011).

Despite the death of the once dreaded Yusuf, the group has continued its attacks unabated. In fact, the insurgence has gone more sophisticated and has indeed assumed a very dangerous dimension. From the time the group was formed to the present day, it has carried out series of well cordinated attacks, most of which were bomb blasts which have left hundreds of people dead and properties destroyed. Some of these deadly attacks were the August 26, 2011 bombing of the United Nation’s Building in Abuja which left over 25 persons dead, with several others seriously wounded. More deadlier was December 25, 2011 (Christmas day) bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State which left 43 people dead and several others injured. (Emewu, 2011, Suzan, 2012).

In the face of these attacks, efforts to tame this deadly sect have brought to mind the place of the mass media in crisis situations. The mass media have been adjudged by conflict resolution experts as indispensable tools for the management of crisis. Nwosu, (2004) affirms that; the mass media are considered to be very important in conflict management because they are information merchants, conduits or carriers of various shades and colours of information. And in times of conflicts, or even wars, adequate or inadequate management of information is considered to be a critical factor in the emergence, escalation or reduction of tension points at various levels, tensions which depending on how they are managed, can determine the end or continuation of conflicts.

Writing also on the power of the media to manage crisis, Anyanwu, (2004) asserts that “there is no conflict so great that it dominates the freedom of a nation and its people which cannot be settled by the media”. McBride et al (1981) as cited in Anyanwu opines that “the media have the power to promote awareness of the culture, the social habits and traditions, the attitudes and hopes and also the grievances of each diverse group in the population”.

The mass media could be perceived as an institution of society that contribute to peaceful resolution of crisis, in reality, we find that the mass media often either consciously or unconsciously contribute to the escalation of conflict. (Nwosu, 2004).

Anyanwu, (2011), further asserts that the mass media can generate and escalate conflicts through inciting coverage, inadequate reporting, none reporting etc, while conflicts can be resolved/managed by the mass media through objective, balanced, adequate, non-sensational, and surveillance reportage.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

Over the years, insecurity resulting from various violent activities of militia groups and ethno-religious unrests has threatened and continues to thwart the craze for socio-economic and political growth of societies the world over. Boko Haram insurgence has indeed worsened matters in the Nigerian socio-economic, religious and political landscape. The sect, through well cordinated attacks and bombings, with Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs) has brought to question the dexterity of the country’s intelligence community in this regard. This is, perhaps, the worst in the annals of the nation’s security history since the end of the civil war in 1967.

In the search for global peace, the mass media, being very crucial in promoting development, consequent upon peace, have continued to use their various communication strategies like Radio broadcasting, Television or news reporting not only to avert violence and strife, but to douse tension when the chips are down. Most times, those aggrieved are provided with alternative platforms in the media to air their grievances instead of taking to arms. However, how the mass media, especially the broadcast media which are caught between sensationalizing stories to boost patronage and objectively informing the people have played this role has become a subject of interest. No doubt, the media have the power to resolve crises, but at the other extreme, the media can also escalate same. With the present onslaught of the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria, evaluating the place of the media has become necessary to researchers, including peace and conflict resolution experts. AIT and NTA are arguably the largest privately and government owned television stations in Nigeria. Therefore, taking a cursory look at media coverage of the insurgent activities of the Boko Haram sect in this largely orchestrated ethno-religious crisis in the north have continued to agitate the study interest of the researcher. It is inthis regards that the researcher seeks to carryout this research on audience assessment of AIT and NTA reportage of the Boko Haram crisis in the North Eastern Nigeria.

1.3       Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of thisstudy is to evaluate audience assessment of AIT and NTA.s reportage of the Boko Haram crisis in the northern states of Nigeria while the specific objectives of the study are as follows:

• To find out the formats adopted by AIT and NTA in reporting the Boko Haram crisis.
• To know the factors responsible for the differences in the reports given to the Boko Haram crisis by AIT and NTA.
• To ascertain which of the broadcast stations (AIT or NTA) is playing more of the surveillance function of the media in the reportage of the Boko Haram crisis.
• To find out the broadcast station (AIT or NTA) that has so far displayed higher level of accuracy, truth and fairness in reporting the Boko Haram crisis.
• To ascertain which of the two broadcast stations (AIT or NTA) is helping the more to resolve the Boko Haram crisis through its reports.

1.4       Research Questions

In line with the objectives of this study, the following research questions were raised;

• What are the formats of the reports given to the Boko Haram crisis by AIT and NTA?
• What are the factors account for the differences in the reports given to the Boko Haram crisis by AIT and NTA?
• Which of AIT and NTA has so far played more of the surveillance function of the media in reporting the Boko Haram crisis?
• Which of the two broadcast stations has displayed high level of accuracy, truth and fairness in reporting the Boko Haram crisis?
• Which of the two broadcast stations (AIT and NTA) has helped more in resolving the Boko Haram crisis through its reportage?

1.5       Significance of the Study

The findings of this study will serve as a reference document for broadcast media practitioners (especially television) on how best to cover terrorism and other ethno-religious crisis of this nature in Nigeria, with a view to building a peaceful, religiously tolerant and prosperous society.

The intelligence community (Police, SSS, and Military etc) will equally find the outcome of this study very useful, since it will promote the need to build a common bridge between the media and intelligent communities, which will ultimately fast-track the resolution of the Boko Haram question.

Also, institutions of higher learning (universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, etc) shall find this work very useful in the teaching and learning of conflicts and media studies.

The need to significantly contribute to knowledge in this area inspired the researcher to embark on this study. Thus, this study shall be building block for other similar studies in this area of knowledge.

1.6       Scope of the Study

The study focuses on Audience Assessment of AIT and NTA’s Reportage of the Boko Haran crisis in the North Eastern Nigeria. It does not include other media of mass communication such as radio, newspaper and magazine. However, it is hoped that the result obtained from the study will serve as a means of generalization for all.

The availability, accessibility as well as the readiness to grant the researcher’s request for interview was a hurdle that posed a serious challenge to this study.

1.8       Operational Definition of Terms

For the purpose of clarity, key words or concepts as used in this studyare hereby operationally defined.

Audience: These are all the male and female adults living in North eastern Nigeria who actually watch AIT and NTA’s reports of the Boko Haram attacks.

Assessment: This connotes the views/opinions of the audience on how AIT and NTA have so far fared in reporting the Boko Haram crisis.

AIT: This means African Independence Television. It is a privately owned television station which is the very first, largest and most vibrant privately-owned television station in Nigeria.

NTA: An acronym for Nigerian Television Authority. This television station is owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Boko Haram: This is a faceless Islamic group operating in Northern Nigeria that has continuously rained terror on the country. This group which figuratively means, “Western education is sin”, believes in Sharia Law and jihad. The group is officially known as Jama’atu Ahlis Summa Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad.

Crisis: This means the ill-activities of Boko Haram sect in northern Nigeria that have posed a serious security threat to the Nigerian nation, as well as straining religious nerves between Muslims and Christians.

Media Reportage: The reporting of news by the press and the broadcasting media such as NTA and AIT.

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