JOURNAL ARTICLE

Tweeting "in the language they understand": a peace journalism conception of political contexts and media narratives on Nigeria's Twitter ban.

  • Published In: Media International Australia (8/1/07-current), 2026, v. 199, n. 1. P. 252 1 of 3

  • Database: Communication Source 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Muhammad Auwal, Ahmad; Ersoy, Metin 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the political contexts and media narratives surrounding the seven-month Twitter ban imposed by Nigeria's immediate-past government under President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2021, following Twitter's removal of a tweet by Buhari referencing the Nigerian Civil War and threatening violence against separatists. Using a peace journalism framework, the study analyzes Buhari's tweet and 48 journalistic articles from 10 English-language news outlets during the initial three months of the ban to assess how media coverage either mitigated or exacerbated societal tensions. Findings reveal that Buhari's tweet employed polarizing language invoking ethnic and historical divides, while media narratives varied in their adherence to peace journalism principles, influencing public perceptions and responses to the ban. The study underscores the role of responsible political communication and media coverage in fostering democratic peace and cautions against discourses that deepen polarization in Nigeria's multipolar society.

Additional Information

  • Source:Media International Australia (8/1/07-current). 2026/05, Vol. 199, Issue 1, p252
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Communication and Mass Media
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:1329-878X
  • DOI:10.1177/1329878X241280234
  • Accession Number:193393345
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Media International Australia (8/1/07-current) is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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