I Didn’t Mean to Shoot Seun Okinbaloye, Wike Clarifies; Media Groups Protest

*Amnesty International accuses minister of promoting violence against journalists

Chuks Okocha and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike has described his remarks about the Channels Television presenter, Seun Okinbaloye as a figurative expression, clarifying that he never meant that he would shoot the presenter.
This is just as a coalition of media freedom and civil society organisations has condemned the remarks by the minister concerning Okinbaloye, and demanded an immediate apology and a commitment to uphold press freedom.

Amnesty International has also accused the FCT minister of promoting violence against journalists.
Speaking on his programme, Okinbaloye had expressed concern that the political space appeared to be narrowing, warning that Nigeria could be “doomed democratically” if viable opposition parties were unable to effectively participate in the elections.
He raised concerns on the possibility of Nigeria drifting towards a one-party state ahead of the 2027 general election.
Responding during a media chat, Wike said: “I was surprised yesterday, thoroughly surprised. If there were any way to break the screen, I would have shot him.”

However, following the widespread condemnations that followed Wike’s comments, Wike has described his remarks as figurative remarks, clarifying that he didn’t mean to shoot Okinbaloye.
He added they even spoke on the phone yesterday, and he (Okinbaloye) understood what he meant.
A statement by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, clarified that: “What the minister meant, which he made clear during the media chat was that he was angry seeing Okinbaloye, whom he holds in high esteem as a journalist, descending into the political arena by speaking as an interested party, instead of an interviewer.
“The statement made by the minister was in hyperbolic context, which was clearly without intent. It was primarily using exaggeration to make a point.

 “Even after the minister made the clarifications on the live television programme, which had Chamberlain Uzor, Head of Channels Television’s Abuja Office as part of the interviewers, all the journalists who were interviewing him just laughed.
 “Therefore, after the minister detailed explanations of what he meant, including saying on the live television programme that he didn’t mean that he will carry gun and shoot the television anchor, it will become a clear hatchet job for any individual or group to pick the statement out of context and make any issue out of it”.
He urged the public to discountenance the use of the comment as an instrument of blackmail and propaganda by those whose intent is to misrepresent facts for their political gains.

However, a coalition of media freedom and civil society organisations has condemned the remarks by the minister and demanded an immediate apology and a commitment to uphold press freedom.
The groups, including the International Press Institute, International Press Centre, Media Rights Agenda, Enough is Enough Nigeria, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, Centre for Media and Society, and YIAGA Africa, described the minister’s statement as inappropriate and dangerous.

Others in the coalition are the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Global Rights, Dataphyte Foundation, Accountability Lab Nigeria, TechHer, Kebekatche Women Development Resource Centre and DigiCivic Initiative.
In a joint statement signed by the 14 organisations, the coalition called on the minister to apologise to the journalist and the wider media community, and to reaffirm his commitment to non-violence and constitutional principles.

The groups noted that although Wike later clarified that he did not intend to harm the journalist physically, such statements, even when expressed hypothetically, amount to a conditional threat and cannot be dismissed as harmless.

“Even if intended humorously, such rhetoric can be perceived as intimidation by both the journalist and the public,” the statement said.

They warned that violent language directed at journalists contributes to a climate of fear, undermining the media’s role in holding power to account and informing the public.

According to the groups, threats—whether direct or implied—endanger journalists and weaken public confidence in democratic institutions.

They further observed that Nigeria, ranked 122 out of 180 countries on global press freedom indices, remains a difficult environment for journalists, with frequent reports of harassment, monitoring, and arbitrary arrests, particularly during election periods.

The coalition urged political leaders and public officials to eschew inflammatory rhetoric and promote constructive engagement with the media, even in the face of criticism.

Also reacting, Amnesty International accused the FCT minister of promoting violence against journalists.

The organisation described Wike’s statement as “reckless, unlawful and unacceptable,” warning that it could normalise attacks on media practitioners.

“Violence against journalists is a grave threat to democracy. That a federal cabinet member would make such a statement is extremely worrying,” Amnesty International said in a statement.

It called on Wike to immediately withdraw the remark and apologise, while urging Nigerian authorities to ensure that such conduct is not condoned.

The rights group added that statements of this nature risk encouraging hostility towards journalists performing their professional duties, stressing that safeguarding press freedom remains essential to the health of Nigeria’s democracy.