The Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has raised alarm over the growing activities of impostors posing as journalists in the Ogun-East Senatorial District, particularly across Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, and the entire Remo axis.
In a statement released on Tuesday by the Council Secretary, the Union cautioned that these individuals, masquerading as media professionals, are engaging in unethical practices that not only tarnish the image of the journalism profession but also pose potential risks to the public.
“It has come to our attention that some of these individuals operate under the guise of protection from certain security operatives, especially the police, while falsely claiming to be journalists, others openly parade themselves as members of the press without belonging to any accredited or recognized body such as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) or its duly recognized affiliate in the region, the Ogun-East Independent Chapel”.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Ogun State Council of NUJ reaffirmed that the Ogun-East Independent Chapel remains the only officially constituted chapel recognized in the Ogun-East axis. The Chapel is solely empowered to oversee journalistic activities, identify legitimate practitioners, and verify members when necessary.
The statement further noted that, following the inauguration of the executive members of the Ogun-East Independent Chapel, the NUJ State Council in collaboration with the National Secretariat has issued official identification cards to verified and accredited journalists operating within the district.
The Council urged members of the public, the police, and other security agencies to verify the credentials of anyone claiming to be a journalist before granting access or sharing sensitive information.
“Authentic journalists are expected to carry valid NUJ identification cards and adhere strictly to the ethical standards of the profession,” the statement emphasized.
The Ogun NUJ also called on residents and community members to report any suspicious individuals or activities to the appropriate authorities, reaffirming its commitment to upholding the integrity of journalism in the state.
“The Ogun NUJ remains steadfast in protecting the credibility of the profession and will not hesitate to take decisive action against anyone found impersonating journalists.”
