RADIO CAMPAIGN AGAINST ARMED ROBBERY AND INCESSANT KIDNAPPING AMONGST NIGERIAN YOUTHS: A STUDY OF PORT HARCOURT YOUTHS

Abstract

The study examined Radio Campaign against Armed Robbery and Incessant Kidnapping amongst Nigerian Youths. A Study of Port Harcourt Youths. The study as part of its objectives inquired to ascertain if Port Harcourt youths are exposed to radio campaign against armed robbery and incessant kidnapping, determine their perception of radio campaign against armed robbery and incessant kidnapping, to determine the attendant effects of armed robbery and incessant kidnapping amongst Nigerian youths in Port Harcourt, to find out the communication strategies used on radio campaign against armed robbery and kidnapping and to ascertain the level of effectiveness of radio campaign against armed robbery and incessant kidnapping amongst Nigerian youths in Port Harcourt. The study employed social learning and strain theories to give the work a theoretical base; and employed the descriptive survey. The population of Port Harcourt youths was 680,800, while the sample size was 400 which was determined using Taro Yamene’s formula as a guide. The multi stage sampling technique was used. Questionnaire was the instrument used in gathering relevant data for the study. Data were presented in tables while the questions were analyzed using four point likert scale criterion mean. The finding of the study revealed that Nigerian youths in Port Harcourt  were exposed to radio campaign against armed robbery and incessant kidnapping. The finding also showed that Nigeria youths in Port Harcourt perceived radio campaign against armed robbery and incessant kidnapping as satisfactory. The finding indicated that the high incidence of armed robbery and incessant kidnapping caused untimely death to the youths, imprisonment, curses and shame, etc. Findings showed that jingles, talk shows, interviews, short stories, enlightenment programmes and traditional media were the communication strategies used on radio stations and they were highly effective. It was however concluded that governments at federal and state levels should provide jobs and empowerment programmes to engage the youths in order to reduce the menace. The study recommended that Nigerian youths in Port Harcourt should be more exposed to radio campaigns against armed robbery and incessant kidnapping to change their behaviours positively. It was also recommended that Nigerian youths in Port Harcourt should give more attention to radio campaigns to enable media planners evaluate their programmes and employ alternative communication strategies to achieve more positive results.