Keyword : Fear, Information, Sit-At-Home, Communication, Violence
Author(s) : Chioma Njoku; Ngozi, Wellington & Amune, Asusheyi Philip
Abstract :
This study evaluates how fear is promoted through information sharing on the controversial “Sit-at-Home Order” in the South-East political zone of Nigeria. Unfortunately, the ripple effect of this order and how it affects residents and all business activities weekly causing loss of millions in various industries especially, the economic implications towards GDP calls for concern. Certainly, public behaviour and attitude are believed to be a product of the kind of information they are constantly exposed to. This study seeks to provide a basis for substantiating this claim by establishing the level of awareness of information on the Sit-At-Home order among residents in South East Nigeria; their attitude towards such information and factors that promotes fear among residents regarding the Sit-At-Home order in the region. This study uses the Fear Appeal Theory. The study uses 372 respondents, and copies of questionnaires were administered to respondents in the South-East regions of Nigeria. The States in this terrain were five. Findings revealed that 94% of respondents are aware of the Sit-At-Home order whereas 60% of the respondents were practically exposed to the content of the information sharing on the Sit-At-Home order in the region. Further findings revealed the general feeling of perpetual fear among respondents arising from exposure to video contents of victims gruesomely murdered as a result of a perceived violation of the Sit-At-Home order. This was found to be a major factor that promotes fear along with the threat contained in the content of the Sit-At-Home order, especially among non-literate population in the grassroots. The researchers, therefore, conclude among other things that fear is easily promoted by incidents that suggest insecurity of human lives with the constant spread of information about victims murdered as a result of a perceived violation of the Sit-At-Home order. The study recommends among other things that residents should avoid acting by impulse or join in the spread of information that can promote fear, especially among non-literate members of the public who mostly fall victim to the heinous crimes perpetuated by “Unknown Gunmen in the region.
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