Textual Analysis of Netizens’ Reactions to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Extraordinary Rendition from Kenya by General Muhammadu Buhari’s Civilian Government

Abstract

This study investigated the reactions of Internet users hereafter referred to as netizens to the extraordinary rendition from Kenya of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) secessionist group, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the General Mohammadu Buhari’s civilian administration and the implications for his administration. The study adopted the Interest Theory of Human Rights to explain the reactions of the netizens, and the government, and used the context theory to explain how they defined the arrest and detention of Kanu as well as the response of the government of Nigeria to social media messages. Data were generated through a qualitative literature review, while a purposive sampling technique was deployed to pick Twitter as the social media to focus on and 10 tweets were selected for the study. Findings show that netizens’ reactions portrayed the action of the Nigerian government negatively as an abuser of human rights. However, this did not influence the government to release Kanu despite the deadline of six months given by the United Nations Human Rights Body for his release unconditionally. Further studies is recommended at the end of the UN deadline to ascertain measures taken by the international body to protect the rights of Kanu and how Nigeria fared with the dent on her image.