The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has expressed sadness over the death of its former President, Dotun Oladipo, publisher of The Eagle Online.

Oladipo died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the age of 56.

He was President of GOCOP from 2017 to 2021 and was one of the publishers who helped shape the Guild in its early years.

His death is a loss to GOCOP and the wider Nigerian media community.

Oladipo came into online publishing with years of experience in the traditional media. He had worked as a journalist and editor before moving into digital publishing and bringing that experience to The Eagle Online.

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At a time when online news publishing was still developing in Nigeria, he was among those who saw the need for publishers to come together, share ideas and build a stronger professional community.

That was also the period when GOCOP was growing from an association of online publishers into an organisation with a clear identity and a growing presence in the Nigerian media industry.

As President between 2017 and 2021, Oladipo devoted considerable time to the affairs of the Guild. He represented GOCOP at different engagements and worked with members as the organisation dealt with the opportunities and challenges that came with the rapid growth of online publishing.

GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, said Oladipo’s death was painful for the Guild.

“Dotun played an important role in the development of GOCOP. He led the Guild for four years at a time when there was still a lot of work to be done to establish online publishers as an important part of the media. His contribution will always be remembered,” Nmodu said.

He said Oladipo brought his experience as a journalist and publisher to the leadership of the Guild.

“Dotun understood journalism and he understood the business of publishing. He was passionate about the place of online media in Nigeria and he gave his time to the growth of the Guild. We are saddened by his passing,” Nmodu said.

Oladipo’s involvement in journalism began long before the emergence of online publishing as a major source of news in Nigeria. His career in the mainstream media gave him a grounding in reporting, editing and newsroom management.

He later became publisher of The Eagle Online, joining a group of journalists and publishers who moved into the digital space as the internet changed the way Nigerians received and shared news.

His years in GOCOP coincided with a period of rapid growth in online publishing. More news platforms were emerging, social media was changing the way stories reached readers, and online publishers were becoming increasingly important to the Nigerian media industry.

GOCOP said Oladipo’s contribution should be seen against this background.

The Guild also remembered him as a colleague who maintained relationships with publishers across the country and took an active interest in the affairs of the organisation even after leaving office.

GOCOP extended its condolences to Oladipo’s family, the management and staff of The Eagle Online, and his friends and colleagues in the media industry.

The Guild said it would work with his family and associates on plans to honour his memory.

Several state governors have converged in Abuja for a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), with the prevailing security situation in the country expected to feature prominently in their discussions.

The meeting is being chaired by the NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Among the governors in attendance are Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule.

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Deputy governors are also representing some state governors, including those from Katsina, Yobe, Niger and Oyo states.

The official agenda of the meeting has not been made public.

However, the security situation across the country is expected to be among the key issues considered by the governors.

The meeting comes amid renewed concerns over insecurity in parts of the country, including recent reports of a major mass kidnapping in Niger State that has drawn renewed attention to Nigeria’s security challenges.

The NGF provides a platform for the 36 state governors to deliberate on issues affecting their states and coordinate positions on matters of national importance.

The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence to support his allegation that some police officers share information about wealthy travellers with kidnappers.

The Force made the demand in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on Thursday, following remarks attributed to VDM at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt.

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VDM had alleged that police officers manning checkpoints along major highways identify wealthy travellers and pass information about their identities and movements to kidnappers and bandits, thereby facilitating abductions for ransom.

Reacting to the allegation, the police described the claim as serious but rejected it as unsubstantiated and damaging to an institution responsible for protecting millions of Nigerians.

According to the Force, allegations of such magnitude require credible evidence, stressing that officers deployed to checkpoints and other locations across the country are mandated to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect citizens.

The police also pointed to the risks faced by its personnel, saying officers routinely confront the same criminal elements they are accused of colluding with.

The Force said several police officers had been ambushed, attacked and killed, while police stations, formations and operational assets had also come under attacks by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals.

It cautioned against generalising allegations of misconduct to cover hundreds of thousands of police officers who serve under difficult and often dangerous conditions.

“Where individual officers are found to have compromised their duty, they will face the full weight of internal discipline and the law. But an entire institution should not be condemned on the strength of a public statement made without evidence,” the statement said.

The Force subsequently invited Otse to submit any evidence in his possession, including information supporting his claim that checkpoint personnel identify wealthy individuals and relay their movements to kidnappers.

“Any such information will be treated with urgency and investigated thoroughly,” the police said.

The police also urged members of the public who have credible evidence of police misconduct to report through appropriate channels.

It assured Nigerians that such complaints would be investigated and necessary action taken where wrongdoing is established.

The Force reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, saying it would continue to investigate credible allegations of misconduct regardless of how they arise.

However, it urged the public to exercise caution when making or circulating allegations involving national security institutions.

The police said legitimate criticism could strengthen accountability, while unsubstantiated claims could undermine public trust and national security.