RESOLVING COMMUNAL CONFLICTS USING MEDIA AS ALTERNATIVE APPROACH FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AMONG TRIBES: CASE STUDY OF SHARE-TSARAGI, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Communal conflicts have ravaged many communities in Nigeria, Share-Tsaragi inclusive, leading to destruction of lives and property. Previous investigations identified the media as one of the instigators of these conflicts because of its position as a powerful tool for mass mobilization for violence. This research examines the emerging paradigm of using media as a potential manager of conflict in Nigeria by specifically looking at the extent to which the mediating roles of media impacted on the communal crisis between Share-Tsaragi in Kwara state. Sequel to this objective, the research adopts qualitative method of analysis which is premised on descriptive analytical technique for data presentation. Fifty key informants were purposively interviewed across the two communities, focus group discussions as well as other secondary data were used in the course of the investigation. Findings from the study reveal how the media can be used as a mediating tool to augment government’s effort at restoring peace in conflicting communities. The research is significant to governments at all levels as well as ministries and agencies connected with land and boundary disputes, civil society groups, media practitioners and peace scholars, as it offers recommendations in respect of using the study to guide new policies and equally serves as an instrument of further research that have to do with conflict and peace studies as well as media expertise in conflict management. The study concludes by coming up with new model and shifting from old paradigm that media can be optimized for effective conflict management.