Interrogating the nexus between rumour and conflict in Nigeria

Abstract

This study interrogated the nexus between rumour and conflict in Nigeria by examining the nature, causes, and instances of some major rumours in the country and their connection to the conflict. Rumours have permeated every sector in Nigeria, from informal to formal, causing conflicts and even violence. Social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter have become dominant channels for sharing information. There is also the traditional mass media of television and press as platforms for sharing information. Information from these platforms can lead to peace in a conflict situation. The negative is that these platforms have also become channels for spreading rumours that can cause or exacerbate existing conflicts. Using a survey research design, data were collected through a structured questionnaire known as The Nexus Between Rumour and Conflict Questionnaire (TNRCQ). Null and alternate hypotheses were tested using person correlations through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21 (IBM Corp) at a 0.05 level of significance. From the test result, the correlation was significant at 0.01, showing a significant relationship between rumour and conflicts in Nigeria. Violence like the Alu 4 lynching and the Lekki Massacre were majorly caused by rumours. There was also a national political tension occasioned by the rumour of the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari. There is, therefore, an urgent need for the government and other stakeholders to engage in mass education of the population about the danger of spreading unverified information, especially on social media platforms.