USE OF PROPAGANDA AND PUPILS/TEACHERS ABDUCTION IN ORIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines the influence of propaganda on abduction in Nigeria, focusing on how media framing, sensational reporting, and the glorification of criminal actors can shape public perception and possibly encourage kidnapping behavior. Propaganda in this context does not only mean false political messaging; it also includes exaggerated or misleading narratives that make abductors appear powerful, successful, or feared. Such portrayals can increase public anxiety, normalize violence, and contribute to the spread of abduction as a criminal strategy, especially when coverage gives excessive attention to ransom, notoriety, or the status of offenders.The paper is grounded in media and communication theories such as Agenda – setting theory, and Propaganda theory, which explain how repeated exposure to certain messages can influence attitudes and behavior. In Nigeria, the media has played a dual role: while some coverage has helped sustain public awareness and pressure authorities to respond, other coverage has unintentionally glamorized kidnapping and amplified its social impact. The study therefore argues that propaganda and sensational framing can worsen the abduction crisis by shaping fear, public interpretation, and even criminal imitation, while responsible reporting can support awareness and collective response.The paper concludes that the relationship between propaganda and abduction in Nigeria is both complex and significant, because media narratives can either discourage or reinforce criminal conduct.

Keywords : Propaganda, Abduction; Sensational Reporting,