This study applies content analysis to assess the insurgency dynamics in North-East and South-East regions of Nigeria during the period between 2015 and 2020. Insurgencies, which pose significant threats to national security and development, require robust analytical frameworks to dissect their root causes, manifestations and societal impacts. The research focuses on comparing the North-East (plagued by Boko Haram insurgencies) with the South-East (characterized by agitations and emerging separatist movements led by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)).

This methodology emphasizes identifying patterns, trends and narratives that shape public perception and policy responses to insurgencies. Also, the study explores the role of print media in framing insurgency issues and investigates whether regional differences influence how insurgencies are reported and addressed.

Key findings in this study reveal divergent approaches to insurgency management and reporting between the two regions, underscored by historical, cultural, and geopolitical factors. The North-East insurgency gained more media attention with much emphasis on displacement and humanitarian crisis. The region’s insurgency was however discovered to be heavily militarized, with a focus on counter-terrorism efforts, while the South-East unrest has less media attention as no much reportage on the region’s unrest was presented under the period under review.

The study concludes that content analysis is an effective tool for deriving insights from diverse data sources, offering nuanced perspectives that aid policymakers in developing context-sensitive interventions. It therefore recommends that academic discourse on insurgency management that could enrich the understanding of the country’s unique security challenges is highly desirable.