Media and Migration: X-Raying the Failure of the Press in Addressing the Plight of IDPS in Nigeria

Abstract

The gruesome attack of unsuspecting members of the public, incessant shelling of military formations and destruction of property taking place in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria has left thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) helpless victims. The guerrilla tactics of the insurgents which enables them to take advantage of civilian populations by using mostly women and schoolgirls as sex slaves, cooks, suicide bombers and human-shields has further made the Boko Haram insurgency a dire humanitarian crisis. With no ancestral home to call their own, those who have been adversely affected by the insurgency have had to rely on relations in far-flung states by migrating to those places or simply remaining in open camps. With this background, the researcher embarked on a qualitative investigation: “Media and Migration: X-Raying the Failure of the Press in Addressing the Plight of IDPs in Nigeria” to investigate the matter. With the aid of the social migration, mutual and collective interest theories, the study discovered complacency, lack of professionalism and synergy amongst media corporations as responsible for the menace. It suggested training of journalists as well as rehabilitation and reintegration of victims to their communities as ways out. It concluded that if the press plays its pivotal role as the conscience of society, it would keep government on its toes about the plight of IDPs. Only then can the integration of these victims into society be fully achieved.