ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPER REPORTS OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA (IPOB)

Abstract

The study aimed to critically analyse the media's reports about IPOB using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). CDA sees language as a social practice and hence, the use of specific lexeme or vocabulary indicates certain ideological standpoint. CDA believes no use of words is neutral, that there are certain ideologies or principles that guide discussants in discourse. It is therefore necessary to analyse the media and try to uncover the ideological standpoints in their reports about the secessionist group - IPOB. The analysis indeed showed that the media is not a neutral channel as they claim to be. They are sites of ideological struggles and these ideologies influenced their reports about IPOB.