MASS MEDIA AND CRUSADE AGAINST BOKO HARAM
Abstract
The paper study the role of broadcast media in crusade against terrorism especially in Nigeria with the insurgence of Boko Haram has since been a threat to national security. The study became essential because of the atmosphere in which the Nigerian media found itself as a watchdog caught in the midst of political, ethnicity and religious divide. The research is justified by the Social Responsibility and Agenda Setting theories respectively. The study adopted qualitative research method to show the roles of mass media in combating insurgency.Qualitative data is often gathered through interviews, focus groups or the study of texts. Our paper employs the study of media texts, academic papers and opinion pieces available in newspapers and online portals Findings show that mass media reports about terrorism was creating tension as emphasis were been made on attacks more that many important activities. The research recommends that journalists should as a matter of national security must not write or broadcast unguided utterances of security agents with regards to logistical plans to root out criminals and terrorists from our civilized society.
 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 background to the study
Terrorism is a global phenomenon that now dominates major news headlines of the mainstream media from London to Paris, New York to Beijing and Damascus to Moscow. Networks from CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera and France 24 all have terrorism present in their news headlines. Bassiouni (1981) reports that in the 1960s and 1970s, terrorism was mainly attributed to Marxist and Communist radicals in South and North America, right wing radicals in Western Europe mainly in Italy and Germany, and religious extremists in the Middle East. However, with the collapse of regimes in Iraq, Yemen and Libya, coupled with the insurgency in Syria, and Nigeria, Islamic insurgents account for a greater part of terrorist activities in the world.
Sub-Saharan Africa has become some of the hotbeds of violent terrorism activities in recent history. In East Africa; Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have experienced terrorist acts of different proportions (Blair & Lough, 2013; Ferguson, 2013; Agbiboa, 2014) attributed to the Al Shabab group based mainly in Somalia, while Mali, Cameroun, Niger, Sudan, South Sudan and especially Nigeria have all experienced terrorism attributed mainly to Boko Haram insurgent group operating primarily from North East Nigeria, citizens in the areas where the insurgents consider their strong holds still live in fear and uncertainty as to when the next bomb is going to explode.  
The rise of Boko Haram under the leadership of Mohammed Yusuf, who was perceived as an advocate for the poor has been attributed to negative economic indices such as hunger, poverty, unemployment, lack of access to healthcare, poor road networks, lack of government presence, etc. roughs about by corruption in the government and neglect of the population to fend for themselves in the decay of government infrastructure and economic fabric that binds the local society together (Adeniyi, 2011; Noakes, 2014; Shode, 2018).
Statement of problem
The media has been accused of being complicit in the continued Boko Haram insurgency as has been documented by different scholars (Hamid & Baba, 2014; Ayoola&Olaosun, 2014; Shehu, 2015). This paper supports this view and adds that community media could have helped in bringing the above named negative indices to government attention as well as report on the activities of the Boko Haram group when they were viewed as a religious pressure group with representatives working with the state government in Borno state while behind, their ideologies were being fertilized and nurtured to the point of insurgency against government (Gusau, 2009). Nwanne (2013) defines community media as mass media which serve the needs of those who make up a community. In this sense, these are media dedicated to events in the local environment, and can help in bringing their issues to the attention of government. Calling attention to local vices and groups radicalizing members of the society may have alerted the government to the growing influence of the then religious Boko Haram group before its metamorphosis into an insurgent group.
Objective of the study
The main objective of this research is to determine the impact of social media in the crusade against terrorism and Boko Haram sect.
The specific objectives are name:
1.    To determine the role of mass media in combating terrorism
2.    To determine how media misinformation affect  fight against terrorism
3.    To determine the responsibility of mass media in promoting peace
Research questions
1.    Does mass media play any role in the combat of terrorism?
2.    Does media misinformation affect the fight against terrorism?
Significance of the study
This study will show and expose the significant role played by mass media in the fight against insurgency in the north east Nigeria .
It shows the importance of mass media and need for accurate reportage in the report of terrorism and boko haram sect.
Scope of the study
This study will be focused on the insurgency/terrorism ravaged northeast Nigeria