Rhetorical Strategies in Editorials on Kidnapping in Selected Nigerian Newspapers
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Date
2025-12
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Lead City University Ibadan
Abstract
Kidnapping is now a common occurrence all over Nigeria and has become a serious problem that affects the daily lives of people across the country. This study examined the rhetorical strategies used in selected editorials on kidnapping. The aim was to identify and analyze the rhetorical strategies particularly the use of ethos, pathos, logos, imagery, hyperbole, anaphora and alliteration employed by editorial writers to influence public opinion. Utilizing discourse the study analysed editorials from The Punch, Daily Trust, and Nigerian Tribune, with a focus on how language is used to evoke emotion, establish credibility, and present logical arguments. The data consisted of four editorials published between November 2022 and February 2024, in Nigeria. The editorials were purposely selected because they were recent and they had not really been subjected to linguistic analysis. Through close textual analysis, the research identified recurring rhetorical patterns, including emotive language, appeals to national identity, and calls
for governments accountability. The findings showed that editorials play significant roles in framing the kidnapping crisis, shaping public discourse, and calling on authorities to act. The findings also revealed that emotional appeals were used to create urgency and empathy and logical arguments provided evidence to support claims, and ethical appeals helped position the newspapers as credible voices on national issues. Other strategies like repetition and strong diction were used to emphasise key points. This study has contributed to media and discourse studies by highlighting how editorial writing functions not just to inform, but to shape public perception and encourage social and political change.
Keywords: Rhetorical strategies, Editorials, Kidnapping, Media discourse, Pathos, Ethos, Logos.
Word Count: 253
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Keywords
Rhetorical strategies, Editorials, Kidnapping, Media discourse, Pathos, Ethos, Logos
Citation
Kate Turabian