Thesis Abstract

ABSTRACT The Fulani herdsmen attacks in Nigeria have been a major source of concern due to the widespread violence and loss of lives associated with these incidents. The role of the media in reporting these attacks cannot be overstated, as newspapers play a crucial role in shaping public opinion and influencing government response to such security challenges. This research project aims to evaluate the newspaper coverage of Fulani herdsmen attacks in selected Nigerian newspapers to assess the quality and depth of reporting on this issue. The study will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining content analysis of newspaper articles with interviews with journalists and editors to provide a comprehensive understanding of the media coverage of Fulani herdsmen attacks. A sample of newspapers will be selected based on circulation and readership to ensure a diverse representation of perspectives. The content analysis will focus on key aspects such as framing of the issue, portrayal of the actors involved, attribution of responsibility, and overall tone of the coverage. Through interviews with journalists and editors, the research will delve into the challenges and constraints faced by media practitioners in reporting on Fulani herdsmen attacks. This qualitative data will provide insights into the editorial decisions behind the coverage, the role of editorial policies and guidelines, and the influence of factors such as government pressure and advertiser interests on the reporting of sensitive security issues. The findings of this research project are expected to shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of newspaper coverage of Fulani herdsmen attacks in Nigeria. By evaluating the quality and depth of reporting, the study aims to identify gaps in the coverage and potential biases that may influence public perception of the issue. The research findings will also contribute to the broader discourse on media responsibility and ethics in reporting on security challenges, particularly in conflict-prone regions such as Nigeria. Ultimately, this research project seeks to provide valuable insights for media practitioners, policymakers, and civil society organizations on how to improve media coverage of Fulani herdsmen attacks and enhance public understanding of this complex security issue. By fostering a more informed and nuanced public debate, the study aims to contribute to efforts to address the underlying causes of the conflict and promote peace and stability in affected communities.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

The Fula people also known as Fulani in Hausa language, are a mass population widely dispersed and culturally diverse in all of Africa, but most predominant in West Africa. The Fulani’s generally speak the Fula language. A significant number of them are nomadic in nature, herding cattle, goats and sheep across the vast dry grass lands of their environment, keeping isolate from the local farming communities, making them the world’s largest pastoral nomadic group (Eyekpimi, 2016). They are massively spread over many countries, and are found mainly in West Africa and northern parts of Central Africa, but also in Sudan and Egypt. The main Fulani sub-groups in Nigeria are: Fulbe Adamawa, Fulbe Mbororo, Fulbe Sokoto, Fulbe Gombe, and the Fulbe Borgu (Eyekpimi, 2016).

Nigeria as a nation state is under a severe internal socio-economic and security threat. At a more general level, the threat has special economic, political and environmental dimensions. Each of these dimensions has greatly affected the nation’s stability and can be traced to the Fulani-herdsmen and farmers clash, ethnic militant armies, ethnic and religious conflicts, poverty, insurgency, armed robbery, corruption, economic sabotage and environmental degradation (Damba, 2007).

Fulani Herdsmen’s activities have been escalating steadily in Nigeria; the killings going on in Benue earlier this year being the most recent indicator of the group’s growing threat to Nigeria’s political stability. Indeed, the group is viewed by many experts as a direct challenge the state’s corrupt nature and its general inability to address the expanding economic North-South disparity within Nigeria.