Political Thuggery, Cultism, Motor Park Crisis: My Inherited Challenges, Says Zungura

 

Political Thuggery, Cultism, Motor Park Crisis: My Inherited Challenges, Says Zungura

The Osun State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Online Media Chapel on Thursday, 15th October 2026, paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, CP Ibrahim D. Zungura, at the Command Headquarters in Osogbo. The visit, led by the Chapel Chairman, Mr. Isa Isawade, was part of the Chapel's ongoing Familiarity and Partnership Drive aimed at positioning itself as a credible bridge between the online media space and critical stakeholders in Osun State. Also present at the meeting was the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, alongside executives and members of the Chapel.

In his remarks, Isawade explained that the Chapel was established by the national body of the NUJ under the Osun State Council to provide structure for online journalism practice and tackle the growing problem of misinformation. He lamented that the online space had for too long operated without sufficient professional regulation, allowing quacks and impostors to masquerade as journalists, spread falsehood, extort and blackmail unsuspecting members of the public. According to him, the ease of accessing smartphones and social media has made it possible for virtually anybody to publish information without proper verification, giving rise to fake news and one-sided reports.

The Chairman further warned that the situation had become more complicated with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, which could be used to create manipulated audio and video materials capable of making people appear to say or do things they never did. He said the Chapel was therefore set up to register genuine online media correspondents and publishers, promote verification, and provide a recognised channel through which government institutions, security agencies, organisations and individuals could engage legitimate online journalists.

Isawade stressed that the role of the police as the security monitor of the state could not be overemphasised, noting that the police and the media share a common mandate to serve the public interest, maintain order and ensure safety. He called for stronger collaboration between the two institutions to enhance crime prevention, public trust and effective communication, while commending CP Zungura for his proactive approach to security which, he said, had begun to yield positive results within the short period of his assumption of office as the 29th Commissioner of Police in the state.

In his response, CP Zungura described the visit as an added value and admitted he was not aware of the existence of the Online Chapel until recently. He emphasised the versatility of the media and charged the Chapel to step up efforts to inform the public adequately and accurately, warning that there is information that can make and information that can destroy. The CP urged online journalists to be a force for truth, balance and national unity, stressing that responsible reporting can help prevent crises while inaccurate or inflammatory information may aggravate tensions.

The Commissioner disclosed that he inherited three major security challenges on assumption of office: political thuggery, local government and motor park disputes, and cultism. He recalled that his first day in office coincided with the killings in Ikire, to which he responded immediately by moving to quell thuggery and arrest perpetrators. On motor park issues, he warned that no individual, regardless of political position or public office, was above the law, adding that any local government chairman involved in violence would be arrested. On cultism, he said he had directed Divisional Police Officers to identify flashpoints and make arrests, leading to many suspects now in custody and relative peace in the state.

The Chapel used the occasion to urge the CP to address the activities of police extortionists who extort motorists on the outskirts of the city and intercity routes. The meeting ended with an interactive session where journalists engaged the Commissioner on security matters affecting their communities. Both parties agreed that the courtesy visit marked a significant step towards building synergy between the media and security agencies for the safety, peace and development of Osun State.