GLOBAL MEDIA AND TERRORISM: AN ANALYSIS OF NIGERIA AND FOREIGN MEDIA REPORTAGE OF CHIBOK GIRLS ABDUCTION

Abstract

The abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria, by the terrorist group Boko Haram in April 2014, drew global attention and became a defining moment in the discourse on terrorism and media reportage. This study examines how Nigerian and foreign media covered the Chibok girls’ abduction, focusing on framing, language, thematic emphasis, and the potential influence on public perception. Using a comparative content analysis, the research analyzed selected reports from major Nigerian outlets, including The Guardian, Vanguard, and Channels TV, alongside international media such as the BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera. Findings reveal significant differences in coverage between local and foreign media. Nigerian media often emphasized community impact, government response, and human-interest narratives, while foreign outlets highlighted global condemnation, international intervention, and the framing of Boko Haram as a transnational terrorist threat. The study identifies recurring themes of victimization, governmental accountability, and moral outrage, with variations in tone, source credibility, and narrative structure. Nigerian audiences were more exposed to detailed local consequences and socio-cultural contexts, whereas international audiences received more generalized depictions focused on political and security implications. The findings underscore the critical role of media in shaping public understanding of terrorism, influencing policy discourse, and mobilizing humanitarian response. The study concludes that while both local and international media contributed to raising awareness, disparities in framing can affect perceptions, responses, and policy priorities. It recommends that media practitioners adopt balanced, context-sensitive reporting strategies to enhance public comprehension and support evidence-based interventions in terrorism-prone regions.