Discursive Analysis of the Influence of Counterinsurgency Rhetoric on Counterinsurgency-related Human Rights Abuse in Nigeria (2011-2022)

Description

ABSTRACT
Protection of citizens’ lives and properties is undoubtedly the responsibility of government. However, the rise in activities of insurgents around the world, including Nigeria, has significantly impeded existing peace in many countries, thus, weakening government’s structure and territorial control. In the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, the government introduced various counterinsurgency approaches and strategies, among which was the utilisation of counterinsurgency (COIN) rhetoric, to combat Boko Haram insurgency. Nevertheless, available studies have not critically analysed the rhetoric used in the TPA (Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013) and former President Goodluck Jonathan’s COIN speeches or examined the speech delivery techniques used in the COIN speeches to ascertain the extent to which COIN rhetoric may have influenced COIN-related Human Rights abuse in the impacted area. This set the tone for this study which investigated the discursive rhetoric and speech delivery techniques used in the composition of texts against insurgency in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, and how the rhetoric may have impacted Human Rights abuse during COIN operations. In achieving this task, critical discourse analysis (CDA) and survey were adopted as research methods. Instrument of data collection employed are as follows - code sheet, interview guide and questionnaires (230 respondents) while the sampling technique employed are censor and purposive sampling techniques (TPA and selected 23 COIN-related speeches). Upon investigation, findings showed amongst other things that text composers in the TPA and the selected COIN-related speeches used logos to create logical reasoning in their arguments, while ethos and pathos were used to prove that the Nigeria government is knowledgeable about the situation in the North-East and wanted the people to support the COIN operations. The study, however, recommends that the government should be consistent with the utilisation of COIN rhetoric, re-orientate Nigeria security personnel, adopt integrated COIN communication strategies, establish special courts and amend the TPA to protect Human Rights during COIN operations.

Period	31 Jul 2022
Examinee	Adenike Olubunmi Fadahunsi
Examination held at	Nottingham Trent University
Degree of Recognition	National