AKSU Journal of Communication Research (AJCR)

From Victims to Voices: A Feministic Analysis of Women’s Representation in Nigeria’s Counterterrorism Reporting

Author:  Dango, E. Salamatu & Taye C. Obateru

Abstract
This research investigated the representation of women in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism reporting and assessed how digital media platforms amplify women’s voices in security reporting. The analysis centred on three Nigerian online news outlets: Daily Trust, The Punch, and the BBC News Pidgin. Employing a quantitative content analysis, the study examined 168 news articles published from June 2024 to June 2025.The results indicate that traditional English-language newspapers (Daily Trust and The Punch) predominantly depict women as victims of violence and frequently cite male military or government officials as primary sources. This approach restricted the visibility of women’s contributions to peace-building and community security. In contrast, digital platforms utilising Nigerian Pidgin (BBC News Pidgin) offered greater opportunities for female survivors and community members to share their perspectives, portraying women as both victims and active agents in conflict response. Drawing on framing theory, media convergence theory, and feminist standpoint theory, the study argued that digital media and language accessibility can help expand women’s voices in security reporting. The study concluded that for Nigeria’s Women, Peace and Security agenda, including the National Action Plan (NAP III), to succeed, journalists must move beyond traditional military-focused reporting and recognise women’s lived experiences as important sources of security knowledge.