The Yewa Youths Progressive Movement (YYPM) has cautioned investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo against portraying Ogun West border communities as hotspots for smuggling activities.
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Adeoye Akinola, and Publicity Secretary, Sunday Adeyemi, the group expressed dismay over what it described as sensationalism and unverified claims in Soyombo’s recent social media posts.
The statement, issued in Abeokuta on Friday, accused the journalist of unjustly labeling residents of Ogun border towns as smugglers.
YYPM stated that Soyombo’s assertion that thousands of vehicles loaded with foreign rice were stationed in Ogun border communities, awaiting smuggling into the country, was unfounded and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of the region.
The group noted that Ogun border communities had evolved from being centers of smuggling activities to hubs for legitimate cross-border trade, emphasizing that traders and residents swiftly embraced alternative ventures following the Federal Government’s ban on rice importation through land borders during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Several entrepreneurs in these areas have invested heavily in the cultivation and production of local rice, aligning with the Federal Government’s policy of promoting homegrown agricultural products,” the group stated.
The youth body highlighted ongoing collaborations between border community residents and the Nigeria Customs Service to curb smuggling and other illegal economic activities.
“As a youth group advocating for the development of border communities in Ogun West, we find it worrisome that Mr. Soyombo’s investigative reports continually cast our towns in a negative light.
“His latest claim about two thousand vehicles loaded with foreign rice is not only baseless but also a calculated attempt to mislead authorities and create unnecessary tension,” the statement added.
While acknowledging the importance of investigative journalism in fostering national growth, YYPM condemned what it described as “sensationalism, unnecessary embellishment, and name-calling” in Soyombo’s work.
The group urged the journalist to redirect his focus to other border communities across the country if he intends to investigate smuggling activities, rather than unfairly targeting Ogun State.
“We implore Mr. Soyombo to desist from tagging Ogun border communities as safe havens for smugglers. Calling a dog a bad name to hang it should not be part of investigative journalism,” the statement concluded.
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