Global Journal of Human-Social Science, A: Arts and Humanities, Volume 22 Issue 4

The table above gives a vivid breakdown of the total 180 editions of the newspaper studied. Out of which only 30 (17%) editions had stories on human trafficking. Tab. 2: Total Number of Human Trafficking Stories Published by the Newspapers Newspapers Frequency Percentages Vanguard 15 47% The Guardian 10 31% The Nigerian Observer 7 22% Total 32 100% Source: Content Analysis 2022 The table above shows that a total number of 32 stories were published by the three dailies. Out of this number, Vanguard published 15 (47%) stories; the Guardian Newspaper published 10 (31%) while the Nigerian Observer published 7 (22%) stories. This indicates that Vanguard Newspaper published more stories than Guardian and the Nigerian Observer during the period reviewed. Tab. 3: Distribution of the Selected Newspaper Reports on Major Issues Newspapers Contents Total Govt./Politics Security/Law Crime Education/ Health Others No % No % No % No % No % No % Vanguard 688 20% 287 9% 80 2% 146 4% 548 16% 1749 52% The Guardian 326 10% 131 4% 52 2% 152 5% 359 11% 1020 30% The Nigerian Observer 208 6% 107 3% 22 0.6% 70 2% 194 6% 601 18% Total 1222 36% 525 16% 154 5% 368 11% 1101 33% 3370 100% Source: Content Analysis 2022 The table contains the data which shows the major issues carried by the newspapers which includes, government and politics, security and law, crime; education and health and others. The last variable (others) contained newspaper content such as sports, business, economy, technology, amongst others. From the table, the newspapers ( Vanguard, the Guardian and the Nigerian Observer ) content analyzed for the reported 3370 stories in the period under review. Of this figure, 1222 stories (36%) on issues relating to government and politics, 525 (16%) on security and law, 154 (5%) on crime, 368 stories (11%) on education and health while 1101 (33%) was on others. This means that government and politics stories is more reported than crime stories in the newspapers studied. Tab. 4: Distribution of the Selected Newspaper Reports on Crime Newspapers Contents Total Armed Robbery/ kidnapping Militancy/ Piracy Boko Haram, Herdsmen/Cattle rustling Child Abuse, Rape/ Defilement Human Trafficking No % No % No % No % No % No % Vanguard 40 26% 4 2% 6 4% 15 10% 15 10% 80 52% The Guardian 21 14% 7 5% 9 6% 5 3% 10 6% 52 34% The Nigerian Observer 4 2% - - 3 2% 8 5% 7 5% 22 14% Total 65 42% 11 7% 18 12% 28 18% 32 21% 154 100% Source: Content Analysis 2022 In furtherance to determine the issues the newspapers reported on crime under which human trafficking is subsumed, the study reviewed 154 stories. Of this figure, issues relating to armed robbery and kidnapping were 65 (42%), 11 stories (7%) were carried on militancy and piracy; 18 stories (12%) on boko haram, herdsmen/cattle rustling, 28 (18%) stories were on child abuse, rape and defilement while 32 (21%) were carried on human trafficking. This indicates that armed robbery and kidnapping is the highest crime stories reported by the newspapers studied. © 2022 Global Journals Volume XXII Issue IV Version I 21 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 A 53 A Content Analysis of Newspapers’ Coverage of Human Trafficking in Nigeria