Public Relations, Quest for Sustainable Peace and Security: A Reflection on the Boko Haram Impasse in Nigeria

Abstract

Military measures aimed at ending the destructive onslaught of Boko Haram fundamentalists who have devastated north-east parts of Nigeria seem to be taking long to achieve. This implies peace and security eluding the country unless some other actions are pursued as alternative means of attaining sustainable tranquillity in the country. To this end this study explored the application of principles and techniques of public relations as enduring method of achieving attitudinal transformation for winning the terrorists. The process involves professional practices which will subtly and surely revise the violent disposition of the terrorists through the use of communication. Descriptive analysis was applied encompassing review of literature, theoretical framework and recommendations which include government’s use of professional public relations practitioners and consultants; training and retraining of media and communication practitioners on global best practices of coverage of national security issues, and preparedness with reliable strategic action plans for effective management of future crisis situations like the Boko Haram insurgency.

Keywords: Public relations, conflicts/crises, sustainability, national peace and security