A Comparative Survey of the Print Media in the Coverage of Kidnapping in Nigeria (A Case Study of Vanguard and Daily Trust Newspaper)
Chapter One
Objective Of The Study
The basic aim of this study is to examine print media coverage of kidnapping in Nigeria comparatively. Specifically, the study will;
- Determine whether print media firms are accurate and timely in reporting kidnapping news in Nigeria.
- Determine the extent of the print media’s effectiveness in reporting kidnapping news.
- Ascertain if there is any significant difference between the level of frequency, prominence, and direction given to kidnapping cases in the Daily Trust and Vanguard newspapers.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework
- Empirical framework
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Concept of Kidnapping
Kidnapping is defined by various scholars with varying degrees of success. Firstly, Inyang and Abraham (2013, p. 532) define it as “the forcible seizure, taking away and unlawful detention of a person against his/her will. It is a common law offence and the key part is that it is unwanted act on the part of the victim”. Another definition is offered by Fage and Alabi (2017, p. 289) who conceive kidnapping as “forceful or fraudulent abduction of an individual or a group of individuals for reasons ranging from economic, political, and religious to [struggle for] self-determination”. They however add that the forcefully or fraudulently abducted individuals are carried off as hostages for ransom purposes. This implies that while political and economic factors can instigate kidnapping, the economic reason is the most common predisposing factor of the phenomenon.
Uzorma and Nwanegbo-Ben (2014, p. 132) also define kidnapping as the “act of seizing and detaining or carrying away a person by unlawful force or by fraud, and often with a demand for ransom. It involves taking a person from their family forcefully without their consent with the motive of holding the person as a hostage and earning a profit from their family”. From the foregoing, the definition of kidnapping has no one best way to describe it, but it is clear that for an act to be deemed kidnapping, it shall involve coercive movement of a victim from one place to another, detention or seizure of that person be it a child or an adult. That is why Inyang and Abraham (2013) added that it is legally regarded as a restriction of someone else’s liberty which violates the provision of freedom of movement as enshrined in the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, where every other law takes its cue from. Kidnapping can be targeted at individuals or at groups. School children have been kidnapped in groups in various parts of Nigeria. Usually, the prime targets of kidnapping for ransom are those considered to be wealthy enough to pay a fee in exchange for being freed.
History Of Kidnapping
In contrast to Mohamed K. (2008), quoted in Abdulkabir O.S (2017), who claims that the notion of kidnapping arose around 1682, Turner (1998), quoted in Abdulkabir O.S (2017), claims that the menace of kidnapping arose in the 17th century in England, where children were kidnapped and sold as slaves or agricultural labor to colonial farmers. According to Odoh (2010), the current wave of kidnapping in Nigeria began in late 2005 with the abduction of expatriate oil workers by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND, a youth organization) as a method of alerting the world to the region’s long years of injustice, exploitation, marginalization, and underdevelopment.
Nnamani L. (2015) claims that the early occurrence of abduction may have been copied from the Niger Delta region, when terrorists abducted several oil workers in February 2006 in order to attract worldwide attention to the dire situation in the oil-rich Niger Delta area, with the victims predominantly foreigners.
Inyang and Abraham (2013), on the other hand, argue that the seriousness of abduction is so great that it has essentially touched everyone in our society. The contemporary dimension of abduction became alarming in the Niger Delta region when extremists seized several oil employees in February 2006, purportedly to call worldwide attention to the poor situation in the country’s oil-rich Niger Delta area, although foreigners are their main target. Since then, the societal problem of abduction has spread like wildfire over much of the country, particularly in the country’s south-eastern area. Foreigners are no longer the only targets; nearly every Nigerian is now a target.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e. mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION AND SAMPLING SIZE
The population for the study will consist of executives and their subordinates in the organization which is charged with the application of management by objectives to attain organizational goals in the organization.
This study was carried out to comparatively examine print media coverage of kidnapping in Nigeria using vanguard and daily trust newspaper Lagos State as a case study. Hence, the population of this study comprises of staff of vanguard and daily trust newspaper Lagos State.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of one hundred and nineteen (119) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which one hundred and nine (109) were returned while one hundred (100) were validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 100 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Introduction
This chapter summarizes the findings on the effects of social media on Nigerian deposit money banks service delivery using First Bank Nig. Plc. in Abuja as a case study. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.
Summary of the Study
In this study, our focus was to comparatively examine print media coverage of kidnapping in Nigeria using vanguard and daily trust newspaper Lagos State as a case study. The study was specifically set to determine print media firms are accurate and timely in reporting of kidnapping news in Nigeria, determine the extent of the print media’s effectiveness in reporting kidnapping news, and ascertain if there is any significant difference between the level of frequency, prominence, and direction given to kidnapping cases in the Daily Trust and Vanguard newspapers.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 100 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are staff of vanguard and daily trust newspaper Lagos State.
Conclusions
In the light of the analysis carried out, the following conclusions were drawn.
- Print media firms are accurate and timely in reporting kidnapping news in Nigeria.
- The extent of the print media’s effectiveness in reporting kidnapping news is high.
- There is a significant difference between the level of frequency, prominence, and direction given to kidnapping cases in the Daily Trust and Vanguard newspapers.
Recommendation
Based on the findings the researcher recommends that;
- The Nigeria government should sincerely look for a way to assuage the menace of kidnapping, by tighten their security to checkmate political campaign in order not to create monsters during election and the spiritual magnetism must be checked in order to curtail blood sacrifice. Federal government must also agree that unemployment is the yardstick of all crimes and detrimental vices in Nigeria.
- The Nigerian press and journalist should engage in more affirmative reporting. They should give journalism a proper perspective, focusing on interpreting issues for effective information and co-relation function. They should be consistent with reports to avoid confusing the public.
- The press should give an interpretative reporting more often on any issue such as civil disorders and Kidnapping and its associated. This should be done more than straight news for people to be better informed to make right decisions.
- The media should have a well planed style for reporting stories on South West Kidnapping in order not to glorify the situation. This well taught out plan would help the reporter fashion out better ways to tackle terrorism stories. This style might be an in-house style for the medium.
- It would be good for government to adopt a pre-emptive approach to the issue of terrorism. That is the major way government can be on top of the situation in the country. A situation where the government relies on responding quickly to terrorist attack is not enough. Government should strengthen its agencies and armed forces through further training and financial benefits, to keep them a step ahead of every terrorist attack in the country.
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