Sociolinguistic implications of kidnapping, banditry and Yahoo Plus in society

Abstract

This study explores the sociolinguistic implications of kidnapping, banditry, and Yahoo Plus in contemporary Nigerian society, focusing on how these criminal activities influence language use, communication patterns, and social identity construction. Guided by the major objective of analyzing how non-violent criminal trends reshape everyday discourse and values, the study adopts a non-experimental descriptive design to observe natural linguistic data without manipulating variables. The rationale for the study is rooted in the growing normalization and glamorization of deviant behaviors in public and youth discourse, raising concerns about language's role in social deviance. Drawing from the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework, particularly Van Dijk’s Ideological Square Model, the study examines newspaper articles, song lyrics, and social media content, and street-level conversations. Findings reveal a proliferation of coded language, euphemisms, and valorized expressions such as “runs,” “blood money,” and “dem carry am,” which signal linguistic accommodation of crime. The study also uncovers how such discourse constructs identity and influences youth perceptions of success and morality. The significance lies in unveiling how language mirrors societal shifts and serves as a vessel for the transmission of deviant ideologies. Recommendations include integrating critical discourse education in schools, sensitizing media practitioners on ethical framing, and reviving indigenous proverbs that promote social ethics. This study contributes to sociolinguistic scholarship by offering empirical insight into how language interacts with societal crisis and suggesting pathways for discourse reform in crime-affected communities.