A coalition of 14 press freedom and civil society organisations has condemned FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for threatening to shoot Channels Television anchor Seun Okinbaloye during a media chat in Abuja on Friday. The threat came in response to Okinbaloye's on-air commentary about Nigeria potentially becoming a one-party state, following internal crises within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The journalist had stated that Nigeria is "doomed democratically" if the ADC, as the primary opposition, is unable to contest the 2027 elections. Reacting, Wike said: "I was surprised yesterday, thoroughly surprised. If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him."
Although Wike later clarified he did not mean the statement literally, the coalition rejected the remark as a dangerous conditional threat. The groups demanded a retraction, an apology to Okinbaloye and the media, and a public reaffirmation of non-violence and press freedom. They cited Nigeria's ranking of 122 out of 180 countries on the press freedom index, noting that journalists face routine monitoring, attacks, and arbitrary arrests, especially during elections. The statement warned that such rhetoric from public officials deepens risks for media professionals and erodes democratic trust.
A cabinet minister threatening to shoot a journalist on live television is not rhetoric—it's a signal of how little some officials value constitutional boundaries. Wike's comment, even if framed as hyperbole, normalises violence as a response to dissent, coming from a man overseeing Nigeria's capital. For journalists already operating in a climate ranked among West Africa's most dangerous, this incident reinforces the peril of doing their job. No apology will erase the message: criticism of power may come at a physical cost.
