Constructing 'Christian genocide': A linguistic study of Christian persecution in Nigerian and global online media

This study investigates the linguistic construction of Christian persecution in Nigeria as represented in Nigerian and international online-based media. Employing Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) with particular attention to intertextuality and interdiscursivity, complemented by Framing Theory, the study examines how competing narratives shape public perception of alleged Christian genocide. The study analyses five Nigerian media outlets (Premium Times, ThisDay Live, Sahara Reporters, Vanguard Nigeria, Leadership Newspaper) and five international media outlets (Reuters, Politico, BBC News Africa, The Guardian UK, Al Jazeera English), extracting statements that refer to Christian persecution and assessing the discursive strategies used. Findings reveal that Nigerian media present contested narratives, with some emphasising systematic victimisation of Christians while others deny genocide, highlighting government credibility and impartiality. International media, by contrast, tend to contextualise violence within broader security and governance challenges, emphasising indiscriminate targeting and moderation of emotive claims. Intertextuality and interdiscursivity operate as mechanisms to legitimise claims, blend discourses, and guide audience interpretation, while framing strategies influence moral evaluation, perception of authority, and policy discourse. The analysis demonstrates that media play a critical role in constructing, contesting, and mediating narratives of religious persecution. Implications include the need for evidence-based reporting, responsible advocacy, and careful interpretation of complex socio-religious conflicts by international audiences. The study contributes to discourse analysis, media studies, and conflict research by revealing how competing discourses shape the understanding of Christian persecution in Nigeria.