Muslim Scholars Respond to Human Insecurity in Nigeria: A Thematic and Content Analysis Approach

Human insecurity has emerged as a critical challenge in Nigeria, encompassing issues such as banditry, Boko Haram extremists, farmer-herder conflicts, kidnappings, and political violence. While the government is the primary actor in combating these threats, Muslim scholars have played a significant role in promoting peace, social justice, and guiding communities on matters of insecurity through their Friday sermons and public lectures. This study explores the responses of Muslim scholars to human insecurity in Nigeria through a thematic and content analysis of online newspaper articles. It aims to uncover the key narratives, frame, and strategies adopted by these scholars to address insecurity in the country. Four major newspapers, Daily Trust and Leadership from Northern Nigeria and Sun and Vanguard from Southern Nigeria, were selected due to their prominence. The findings reveal that Leadership and Daily Trust newspapers frame Muslim scholars' response to insecurity in a positive way, highlighting their calls for peace and encouraging government intervention, while The Sun and Vanguard provide a more critical lens, often highlighting the government’s perceived inadequacies in addressing insecurity. The study recommends a balance of media reporting and collaborative engagement between Muslim scholars, the media, and government agencies in the fighting against insecurity menace.