NEWSPAPER REPORTAGE OF ENDSARS IN NIGERIA. A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF TRIBUNE AND PUNCH NEWSPAPER

This study examines the reportage of the EndSARS movement in Nigeria by two leading newspapers, Tribune and Punch, through a content analysis approach. The EndSARS movement, which began in 2017, protests police brutality and extortion by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The study analyzes a total of 100 articles published by both newspapers between 2017 and 2020, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The findings reveal that both newspapers framed the EndSARS movement primarily as a political issue, with a focus on government response and policy implications. However, Tribune tended to emphasize the human rights angle, while Punch focused more on the political and economic implications. The study also notes that both newspapers relied heavily on official sources, with limited representation of marginalized voices. The research concludes that the reportage of EndSARS by Tribune and Punch reflects a broader narrative of political and social contestation in Nigeria, highlighting the need for more diverse and inclusive representation in media coverage of social movements.