Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), faces widespread criticism after threatening to shoot Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye during a media chat in Abuja on Friday. The remark, made in response to a question from Okinbaloye, drew immediate condemnation from a network of press freedom and civil society organisations. The groups described the comment as a dangerous attack on media freedom and a violation of democratic norms. They called for accountability, stressing that public officials must not resort to violence or threats against journalists carrying out their duties. Okinbaloye was reporting on developments in the FCT when he asked Wike a question that prompted the response. The minister did not retract the statement during or after the encounter. The incident has sparked debate over the safety of journalists covering government officials in Nigeria.
A sitting minister threatening to shoot a journalist on camera is not just reckless—it exposes how thin the line has become between public office and public intimidation. Nyesom Wike's comment, made without correction or consequence in the moment, signals a tolerance for hostility toward the press at the highest levels. When a federal minister speaks this way, it doesn't just discredit his office—it emboldens others to see journalists as targets. For Nigerian reporters, the risk of doing their job just increased.
