DSS Raises Alarm Over Motor Park Takeovers, Illegal Mining in Osun, Seeks Media Collaboration

The Department of State Services (DSS) in Osun State has raised concern over the forceful takeover of motor parks and the growing menace of illegal mining in the state, calling on the media to investigate and expose the perpetrators.

The Director of the Osun State DSS Command, Mr. Victor Okon Edet, FSI, made the call when he received a delegation of the Osun NUJ Online Media Chapel, led by its Chairman, Mr. Isa Isawade, on a courtesy visit to the Command’s headquarters in Osogbo.

Edet described the forceful takeover of motor parks in Osun State as appalling, and decried why the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the South West appears so entrenched in governance and politicking. He urged the Chapel to investigate and call out the facts to help arrest the developing problem, suggesting lasting solutions constructively.

On illegal mining, the DSS Director charged the Chapel to investigate and expose the problem and its perpetrators, noting that illegal mining not only deprives the nation of legitimate revenue but also fuels insecurity and environmental degradation.

Edet also urged that reporting be toned down on the activities of bandits and criminals so as not to give them the publicity they crave to thrive. He noted that security personnel are exposed to high risks in the course of their duties and urged that the Chapel operate in the interest of national unity, while emphasising the importance of thorough fact-checking in reporting.

He pointed out that cyber-bullying was another scourge plaguing the online space and urged the Chapel to operate strictly within the ambit of the law. He emphasised that the Chapel, as a regulatory body, must ensure that its members do not become instruments of harassment or intimidation under the guise of journalism.

The DSS Director further urged that proper registration of practitioners be made sacrosanct for clarity and identification, warning that the proliferation of unregistered and unaccountable online media operators poses a serious threat to national security and public order.

Speaking on the broader relationship between security agencies and the media, Edet decried that over time, the partnership that should exist between the two had been somehow eroded, marred, or destroyed in many cases. He urged the Chapel to rise to the occasion and rebuild that bridge of trust and cooperation.

He acknowledged the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and noted the enormous responsibility that comes with that constitutional recognition. He observed that if issues are not published or reported, they will never be known, underscoring the critical role of the media as the public’s eyes and ears.

Citing the recent Ondo State alcohol consumption-related deaths as an example, he demonstrated how timely reportage can save lives and prevent further tragedies.

Edet noted that the DSS, under the administration of its Director-General, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, had been mandated to maintain less visibility and be heard but not seen.

This strategic posture, he explained, is designed to allow the Service to focus on its core mandate of intelligence gathering and national security without unnecessary public attention.

The Director appreciated the role the media played during the just-concluded Osun Governorship Election, lauding the spotlighting which he said had placed Osun on the radar as a case study for future elections in Nigeria. He noted that the professionalism displayed by journalists during the election contributed significantly to the relatively peaceful conduct of the exercise.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Osun NUJ Online Media Chapel, Mr. Isa Isawade, said the visit was part of the Chapel’s Familiarity and Partnership Drive aimed at positioning it as a credible bridge between the online media space and critical stakeholders in Osun State.

Isawade explained that the Chapel was established as a veritable regulator of online journalism with the full backing of the National Body of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), specifically to address the growing challenge of misinformation, disinformation, and unprofessional conduct that has characterised the online media space in recent times.

He emphasised that the Chapel is composed of seasoned and well-grounded professionals committed to the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, and ethical journalism, noting that its regulatory role is not punitive but corrective and developmental, designed to sanitise the online media ecosystem and restore public confidence in digital journalism.

The Director promised adequate support and collaboration with the Chapel, assuring that the DSS would work closely with it to ensure that online journalism in Osun State operates within the bounds of the law and in the interest of national security.