Textual analysis of selected X's (formerly twitter) 2023 postelection Ethnic hate messages against the Igbo people of Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria's post-election atmosphere has always been inundated with one form of crisis or the other. The 2023 general election was not an exception to this historical fact. This study aimed to determine the degree of post-election ethnic hate messages against the Igbo people of Nigeria. The study is anchored on the social responsibility theory. The researchers employed qualitative textual analysis as the research methodology, where posts and comments from X (formerly Twitter were textually analysed. Findings from the study revealed that hate messages are targeted against the Igbo people of Nigeria. From the hate messages analysed, Igbos were framed as betrayers, political intruders, subservient, people deserving of mass killing, and those never to begiven the opportunity of leadership in Nigeria. Also, the researchers found that hate messages against Igbos continuously strain the unity of Nigeria as each election season impacts the unity of the country negatively. Further findings indicated that hate messages against the Igbos emanate from both prominent Nigerians and ordinary citizens. The researchers concluded that Hate Messages are dangerous and can set Nigeria ablaze if left unchecked and recommend that: X (formerly Twitter) and Nigeria government should activate punitive measures against posters of hate messages to deter those who may want to take that path.