| Title: | Analysis of Facebook Audiences Comments on Herdsmen Attack News in Nigeria and Implication for National Unity and Security |
| Author(s): | Ibe Ben ONOJA, Paul Bebenimibo & Nelson Monday ONOJA |
| Abstract: | This paper examined the dominant themes and frames in online audiences’ comments on herdsmen attacks news in Nigeria and how such comments could impact on national security. The paper employed content analysis research method and quantitatively and thematically analysed Channels TV’s Facebook audiences’ comments on selected herdsmen attack related news stories from the five most affected states in Nigeria within January 1st to July 31st, 2018, the peak of such attacks in Nigerian history. The paper purposively selected 311 most relevant comments out of the 500 online audience comments found on the Channels TV’s Facebook wall within the period. Finding reveal that many online commenters believed that Political conspiracy, Fulanization of Nigeria, poor leadership/poor security, and Terrorism were responsible for the herdsmen attacks. There were more comments calling for war or reprisal attacks than those calling for peace and resolution of the conflict. The paper therefore concludes that audience comments on herdsmen attack news in Nigeria was laden with negative frames which could worsen the security situation in the country. The paper then recommends among others that online news audience should pursue objective, solution-driven and nationalistic goals in their comments on herdsmen attacks news in the country rather than being neutral or employing war frame that is capable of escalating the conflict. |
| Keywords: | Facebook feedback comment, Herdsmen attack news, Channels TV, Framing, and National security |
