Analysis of Online Newspaper Readers’ Comments on Amotekun`s Formation

Abstract

The issue of insecurity in Nigeria has arisen to an alarming level that hardly any day passes without the media reporting cases of security breaches. Lives and property are not safe due to the activities of armed robbers, bandits, assassins, terrorists, kidnappers and insurgents. The various security agencies in the country tend to be overwhelmed with the security situation to the extent that individuals and groups are now reverting to self-help measures. This has brought about the formation of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), codenamed Operation Amotekun (Leopard) by the states in the South West region of Nigeria. Mixed reactions greeted its formation. This paper, therefore, analysed the comments made by commenters in reaction to the formation of Amotekun based on reports about it in the online versions of The Nation, The Sun and Daily Trust newspapers. The research was guided by the Classical Rhetoric Theory.The Content Analysis research method was used for this study. The findings showed that the comments which bordered on security, Amotekun formation and other issues bothering the minds of Nigerians were in support of the formation of Amotekun (70.08%).It was recommended that the federal government should do more in ensuring the security of citizens` lives and property as well as allow states and regions to form their security outfits which must be properly regulated and monitored. Also, newspapers should desist from publishing reports that can jeopardise the security of citizens and the nation.