Influence of Social Media Messages on Niger Delta Youths’ Perception of the Federal Government’s War against Oil Theft: A Critical Discourse Analysis

This qualitative research employed Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to investigate how Nigerian Federal Government social media messages on oil theft are received by youths in the Niger Delta. Amid deep-rooted mistrust, ecological damage, and political exclusion, it explored the disconnect between official narratives and audience reception. A purposive sample of posts from 2023-2024 across Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok alongside user comments, emojis, and shares was analyzed through the lenses of Uses and Gratifications Theory, Technological Determinism, and Cultivation Theory to expose the ideological and rhetorical dynamics at play. Findings reveal a clear discursive rift: the government's securitized, punitive language (“war,†“saboteurs,†“wrath of the law†) fuels skepticism, satire, and resistance among digitally literate youths. Rather than deterring oil theft, the messaging provokes counter-narratives that highlight elite corruption, military collusion, and historical neglect. Fact-based, neutral content receives more constructive engagement, while threat-lade rhetoric intensifies distrust. It calls for a shift toward participatory, transparent communication that engages Niger Delta youth as partners in resolving the region’s oil-related crises.