ABSTRACT
In this study, the researcher set out to examine the role
of the media in the crusade against global terrorism. Towards achieving this end, 79 staff of two
media houses in Nigeria, namely the publishers of the punch and vanguard
newspapers were used as the study sample.
These 89 members of the study sample were given 89 copies of structured
questionnaires to complete. The analysis
of their responses led to the following findings.
i.
The Nigeria
media had been playing notable role in the crusade or war against global
terrorism. Some of these roles include
the publication/reporting of informative and up-to-date news on the dangers of
terrorism; the making of compassionate appeals to terrorists to desist from
such devilish acts and the exposing of the hideouts of some notorious
terrorists.
ii.
The Nigerian
media had, through their activities, made positive impact as regards reducing
the incidence of global terrorism.
iii.
Through their
anti-terrorism crusade, the Nigerian media has discouraged terrorists from
using the country as their hideouts.
On the basis of the above findings, the researcher
recommended that, in order to enhance the anti-terrorism campaign of the
Nigerian media, the government should subsidize the cost of printing/publishing
materials (such as ink, paper, and lithographic machines, the printing press
etc). the researcher also recommended
that the government should improve the nation’s broadcasting infrastructure
such as the transmitters and the satellite.
In addition, media practitioners in the country are enjoined (urged) to
intensify their efforts to ensure that they report up-to-date news on
terrorism.
TABLE OF CONTENT
PAGES
Cover page
Title page
Approval page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Table of content
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the problem
1.3 Objectives of the study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Significance of the study
1.6 Scope and Delimitation of the study
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review
2.1.1Hatred
2.1.2Oppression
2.1.3Frustration
2.1.4Injustice
2.2 Various forms of terrorism
2.2.1 Bombing
2.2.2 Cyber terrorism
2.2.3 Sabotage
2.2.4 Eco-terrorism
2.2.5 Terrorism by chemicals and germs
2.3 The weapons of terrorism
2.4 The cost of terrorism
2.5
Reflections on the global concern
for nuclear
terrorism
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research design and methodology
3.1 Research design
3.2 Sources of data
3.3
Sample size determination and
sampling
method
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Data presentation and analysis
4.1 Data presentation
4.2 Data analysis
4.2.1 Analysis of questionnaire data
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
5.1 Summary and conclusions
5.2 Conclusions
5.3 Recommendations
5.4 Limitation of the study
References
Appendix
A (The Questionnaire)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
In the late 1980’s, terrorism appeared to be on the
decline. However, a new breed of
terrorists has emerged, particularly from the Middle East countries, (Arata,
2001:52). It is important to note that
the present – day terrorist threat comes primarily from extremists who have
established their own funding networks through traffic in drugs,
private-business, independent wealth, charities and local financial
support. Also these terrorists had
continued to be as ruthless as ever (Eze, 200:67).
Nsidi (2002:61) reported that recent years saw a
proliferation of senseless act of terrorism.
Some of these acts of terrorism, as reported in the
Nigerian media include the following:-
1. The bombing of Israel: Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina in March
12, 1992.
2.
The release of the deadly serin gas onto the
Tokyo (Japan) subway trains on March 20, 1995.
3.
The bombing of a federal building at Oklahona –
City (U.S.A) in April 1995.
4.
The bombing of a bank in Colombo (Srilanka) in
January 31, 1996 by ethnic terrorists.
5.
The detonation of a bomb in a parking garage by
Irish terrorists in London (English) on February 9, 1996.
6.
The blowing up of a bus in Jerusalem (Israel) by
a suicide bomber on February 25, 1996.
7.
The explosion of a bomb outside a U.S. military
housing facility in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in June 25,1995.
8.
The
bombing of the World Trade Centre (WTC) Building in New York (U.S.A.) on
September 11, 2001.
9.
The various Christian – Moslem riots of (1997,
1999, 2000 and 2002) in Nigeria, among others.
In general, terrorists seem to exhibit less restraint
than they did in the past. There is also
new choices of weapons at the disposal of the terrorists. According to Udoji (2001:66):
“…. We live in an age of
unimaginable – rage and apocalyptic arsenals – nuclear, chemical and
biological”.
Extremists who want to make a greater impression are
turning to the more lethal weapons that technology has made available. According to Williams (2001:43) these
extremists are usually recruited from the following countries.
1.
Iraqi
2.
Palestine
3.
Afghanistan
4.
North Korea
5.
Syria
6.
Saudi Arabia
7.
Libya
8.
Iran
9.
Russia
10.
Indonesia
The attack on the World Trade Centre ( in New York city,
USA) and on the Pentagon ( in Washington d.C.) in September 11, 2001
dramatically showed that there exists nothless and hate driven people bent on
the mass destruction of human life.
Further, the attacks proved that the United States and by extension,
every other nation are vulnerable to such attacks. This implies that we live in a world where
determined terrorists can in an instant, snuff out the lives of thousands of
people (Okeke, 2001:49).
In the Nigeria context, terrorism manifests in the form
of religions wars, Civil unrest’s and ethnic wars. During such wars, the manner of senseless
killings, the setting of such incidents, the style of the reprisals that often
follow such incidents, the provocative sectional reports in the media and the
withdrawal attitudes of certain major groups in the group, often bear close
resemblance’s to the events that precluded the country’s 1967 – 1970 Civil War
(Igwe, 2002:41). The fallout’s (refugees
in their own lands, bereaved families, hapless victims, shattered business)
often provide old wounds and revoke memories of the fate that has been the
consequence of such violent uprisings.
In all cases after the dust had settled, with an anti-riot security men
quelling the riots with Lunatic brutality that often escalate the death tolls,
the victims are usually left their sorrows.
Such dark events, which often occur in Nigeria, have created more
destitute and socially disclosed victims than the Nigeria leadership has
imagined (Ndu, 2001:59).
In the Nigeria case, usually after the fire-brigade
approach of arresting the situation that ends with the inauguration of judicial
panels and ad-hoc committees (whose white papers are a subject of
controversy). The government reaction,
at best is usually the pronouncement of policy statements that hardly ever
translate into meaningful action.
The victims have often had to carry their burden and
their cross in perpetual life of agony.
The so-called rehabilitation and reconstruction measures often get
droned in the murky waters of Nigeria sectional and tribal politics (Adindu,
2002:46).
The point to note here is that terrorism, in whatever
form, is a threat to the survival of mankind.
This fact is the basis of the crusade means, had been an important tool
for this crusade. Hence the focus of
this researcher is to evaluate the role of the media in this regard.
1.2
STATEMENT
OF THE PROEBLEM
Terrorism had been a matter of global concern since the
second half of 25th century.
Apart from some deadly diseases, terrorism is regarded as the greatest
threat to human existence. Hence, all
the nations of the world are presently involved in an untiming crusade to
eliminate terrorism in the whole world.
The mass media had been one of the reliable for waging
war against terrorism. The question then
are these what actually are he contributions of the Nigeria media in the war
against terrorism? What impact had the
activities of the media had as regards to reducing the incidence of terrorist
activities in Nigeria? These questions,
presented the problems that necessitated this research.
1.3
OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The objectives of this study are as follows:
1.
To identify the roles of the Nigerian media in
the war against terrorism.
2.
To ascertain the impact of the Nigerian media as
regards reducing the incidence of terrorism in the country.
3.
To ascertain the effects of the media in
influencing the attitude of the masses towards terrorism.
4.
To suggest the strategies for making the
Nigerian media move effective in waging the war against terrorism.
1.4
RESEARCH
QUESTION
This study is guided by the following research questions:
1.
What are the roles of the Nigeria media in the
war against terrorism?
2.
What are the impact of the Nigerian media as
regards reducing the incidence of terrorism in the country?
3.
What affects has the media in influencing the
attitude of the masses towards terrorism?
4.
What are the strategies for making the Nigerian
media more effective in the crusade against terrorism?
1.5
SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
The findings and recommendations to be made in this
research, if implemented, will go along way towards fortifying the Nigerian
media, particularly as it concerns the crusade against terrorism. This will help in checking or preventing the
outbreak of terrorist activities within the nation. The Nigerian citizens will equally benefit
from this research. This is because the
implementation of this research’s findings and recommendations will ensure that
the lives and properties of the followings Nigerian citizens are adequately
protected.
1.6
SCOPE
AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The findings of this research borders on the media
(particularly0 the Nigeria media) and their contributions towards the global
war against terrorism. This research
will be limited to the vanguard and punch newspapers, which are both published
in Nigeria.
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