Mass Media and the Boko Haram Domestic Terror Attacks in Northern Nigeria: An Overview

Abstract

The study examines Terrorism and The Mass Media : An Overview  Of Boko Haram  Domestic Terror Attacks  In The  Northern Part Of Nigeria. The paper academically sieve through the concept of Terrorism and adjudged it to be a cankerworm that needs to be fought with every counterterrorism machineries.  It is also of the opinion that  the major instrument of terrorism is media propaganda  and that any terrorist action without the media  is of no effect. No wonder why Bruce  Hoffman, a counterterrorism expert wittingly stated that terrorism and the Media " are bound together  in an inherently symbiotic relationship and that each feeding  off and exploiting on another”. The skepticism  regarding the media- objectivity subjected them to a serious condemnation and absurd criticism from scholars within and without. The study found that poverty, deprivation, inequality, and corruption  are the primary cause of Boko Haram  domestic attacks  in contrary to  religion and political factors  as submitted by numerous concerned scholars  like Forrest (2012 : 13), Ogundiya and JimohAmzat (2008), Obioma (2013) and others. The paper utilizes secondary source in its methodology and exploring The Agenda- Setting Theory and Social Responsibility Media Theory in its theoretical perspectives. The study concludes that terrorism once alien to Nigeria is now a reality, incidents of insecurity  and threat factors  have assumed a monstrous dimension negatively impacting on the  livelihood of the people. The media as "The Oxygen Of Publicity” for the terrorists should step up objectivity in their writings and adequately  key in to counterterrorism practices. The collective  efforts of government and the media  would go a long way in reducing if not absolutely obliterated terrorism act from our society. The paper ,therefore, recommends  good government that is capable  of edging out poverty  levels and bridge the wide gap  of standard of living between the rich and the poor. It advocates for objectivity in the media reportage  of events  and stricter monitoring  on the Nation's cyberspace infrastructure.