EFFECTS OF MEDIA REPORTAGE OF ETHNO RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS ON CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS

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Keywords: EFFECTS OF MEDIA REPORTAGE OF ETHNO RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS ON CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Peace is a veritable factor that helps in the developments of any nation. Peace
exist were there is mutual understanding between people of diverse ethno-religious
background. This peace was enjoyed in Kaduna Sate until 1987 when that peaceful
coexistence between Christians and Muslims was shattered as a result of religious
conflict in Kafanchan. In reporting that conflict, some sections of the media only
facilitated the escalation of the conflict to other parts of the state. This problem has casted
doubts in the minds of both Christians and Muslims on the proper role of media reportage
during ethno religious conflicts.
As part of its responsibility, the media is expected to report events whether good
or bad. In doing so, media practitioners have their ethics which guide the conduct of its
members. Reporting ethno religious conflict is one of the delicate and sensitive areas in
journalism which requires professionalism, objectivity and patriotism. When properly
and professionally reported, ethno religious conflict can be quickly controlled while on
the other hand, if reported unprofessionally with sentiment, such conflict escalates.
Apart from the 1987 Kafanchan conflict, Kaduna state has witnessed other ethno
religious conflicts associated with media reportage. For example, the 1992 Zangon Kataf
conflict, the This Day Miss World Conflict and the Dennish Cartoon conflicts were all
believed to have either been initiated by the media or facilitated its escalation to other
places due to the unprofessional media reportage of the conflict. This unprofessional
media reportage which prompted conflict in Kaduna state has caused lost of lives and
properties on the side of both Christian and Muslims. It has equally caused ill feelings
among the diverse ethnic groups in the state. Today, Christians and Muslims in Kaduna
state are suspicious of the true content, neutrality and fairness of media reportage.
The negative effect of media reportage in fuelling ethnic conflict glaringly came
to the fore during the Hutu and Tutsi conflict of Rwanda in 1994. Biblically, there is a
record of the effects of the negative report in the nation of Israel. After the spy sent by
Moses had returned, the exaggerated report of ten of them terrified the camp of Israel.
The people rebelled against Moses and opted to go back to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb who
were among the spies spoke in favour of Israel‟s ability to go and take over the land but
were almost stoned by the people. God had to intervene to save the situation (Number
13:26-33, 14:1-10). This clearly shows the danger of exaggerated reportage. Hence, this
study examines the effects of media reportage of ethno religions conflict of Christians
and Muslims in Kaduna state.

1.2 Statement of the Problem
Christians and Muslims have lived together in Northern Nigeria peacefully right
from pre-independence. Even after independence and the creation of States, Christians
and Muslims have maintained a one united north devoid of ethnic or religious
differences. This is in spite the perceived marginalisation of some northern ethnic groups
by the Hausa Fulani.
The pre-independence and post-independence media concentrated in preaching
and educating Nigerians on unity, peace and national consciousness. Principally, the
media is supposed to inform, educate and entertain the public among other
responsibilities. Religion and ethnicity are not to be employed in the media as weapons
for division and hatred. This simply means that the media is expected at all times to be
fair, balanced and objective in the reportage of events without showing religious or ethnic
sentiments.
However, from 1987 when Kaduna State witnessed one of its major ethno
religious conflicts, the media came to the centre stage of what most commentators regard
as partisanship. While it was expected to play the role of uniting the people, the way and
manner some of the media reported the Kafanchan conflict in 1987 only led to the
escalation of the conflict beyond Kafanchan to other parts of the state. Consequently,
innocent lives of Christians and Muslims were lost. Property and worship places of both
Christians and Muslims were also destroyed. The love, unity, trust and mutual coexistence hitherto enjoyed between Christians and Muslims in the state were shattered.
The 1992 Zangon Kataf conflict and the way the media reported it further severed
the relationship between the various ethnic and religious groups in the State. Apart from
the destruction of lives and properties, many people were displaced and the relationship
between Christians and Muslims as well as the Atyap (and by extension other ethnic
groups in the Southern part) versus the Hausa Fulani in the Northern part deteriorated.
This trend continued sadly with even greater proportions where the media is seen
as not only reporting conflict with bias but even initiating some of the conflicts. The case
of the Dennish cartoon and the „This Day‟ Miss World article which resulted in conflict
between Christians and Muslims in some part of the north are sufficient examples. The
role of the media before, during or after ethnic or religious conflict tilts towards
sectionalism rather than unity. Kaduna State has suffered great loss as a result of these
series of conflicts that are associated with the biased media reportage. In most cases,
religious organisations such as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the
Jama’atul Nasril Islam (J.N.I) have come out to openly accuse the media of either not
being fair or for its discriminatory reportage.
During the 2004 Makarfi religious mayhem, where nine churches were burnt
down, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State and the Jama’atul Nasril
Islam (JNI) in Kaduna State each accused the media for either taking sides or for not
reporting the actual situation of the conflict. It is not surprising therefore that often than
not, the action or reactions of Muslims to Christians or vice versa is determined by the
mass media reports (Bidmos, 1993).
Although much has been written about religious and ethnic conflicts, however,
not much has been written about the effects of media reportage of conflicts on Christians
and Muslims in Kaduna State. This study sets out to investigate the way religion and
ethnicity have been employed in the media in initiating, exacerbating or controlling
ethno-religious conflicts in Kaduna State.

1.3 Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of the study is to examine the effects of media reportage of
ethno-religious conflicts on Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State. The study aims at
achieving the following specific objectives:
1. ascertain the social effects of media reportage of ethno-religious conflicts on
Christians and Muslims community in Kaduna State;
2. assess the economic effects of conflicts associated with media reportage of ethnoreligious conflicts among Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State;
3. investigate the psychological effects of media reportage on ethno-religious
conflicts on Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State; and
4. assess how religion and ethnicity are manipulated in the media to initiate and fuel
ethno-religious conflicts between Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State.

1.4 Research Questions
The following research questions guide the study:
1. How does media reportage of ethno religious conflict affect the social lives of
Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State?
2. What are the economic effects of bias media reportage of ethno-religious
conflicts among Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State?
3. To what extent does reportage of ethno-religious conflict cause any
psychological effect on the lives of Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State?
4. How has religion and ethnicity been manipulated in the media to initiate and
fuel conflicts between Christians and Muslims in Kaduna State?

1.5 Hypotheses
The following also are the hypotheses drawn to be tested in this study:
1. There is no significant difference in the responses of Christian and Muslim
respondents on the social effects of media reportage of ethno religious
conflicts in Kaduna State;
2. There is no significant difference in the responses of male and female
respondents concerning the economic effects of ethno religious conflicts
associated with media reportage in Kaduna State;
3. There is no significant difference in the responses across age-grades on the
psychological effects of ethno religious conflicts caused by media reportage in
Kaduna State; and
4. There is no significant difference in the responses of respondents across the
three zones concerning the manipulation of religion and ethnicity in the media
to initiate and fuel ethno religious conflicts in Kaduna state.

Keywords: EFFECTS OF MEDIA REPORTAGE OF ETHNO RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS ON CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS

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Keywords: EFFECTS OF MEDIA REPORTAGE OF ETHNO RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS ON CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS

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