The Media, Armed Conflict, and the Responsibility to Protect

The mass media is central to the development of any democratic society. Section 22 of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution indicates that the watchdog role is a constitutional duty of the press to ensure that government is responsible and accountable to the people. Its duties become prominent during emergencies and conflicts where, practitioners are expected to report without prejudice and as well feed the citizenry with reliable and up-to-date information to the extent that compel those in authority to take drastic action in order to assuage the feeling of the vulnerable. However, the number of people living under constant threat of banditry, terrorism and plethora of human rights abuses in Nigeria is stunning, especially in Northern Nigeria where Boko Haram insurgents have culminated in abductions, kidnap-for-money and killings. These situations demand the attention of the media more than before. It is against this background that this paper examined the critical role of the media practitioners in crises situation, especially how they monitor NGOs, international organisations and voluntary agencies in applying the concept of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in relation to vulnerable people-women, children, aged and communities-affected by conflicts and how journalists tailor their reportage towards the welfare of the defenseless citizenry in particular to fulfill their watchdog role at large—all in a bid to make the society a better place. The theoretical underpinning of this study is formed by the Social Responsibility Theory. The study also employed focus group discussion (FGD) to gather qualitative data.