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Amnesty, civil society demand apology after Wike threatens to shoot Channels TV’s Seun Okinbaloye
Amnesty International and civil society groups in the country have demanded apology from Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesome Wike, after he threatened to shoot Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ host, Seun Okinbaloye.
During a live political program aired on Thursday, Okinbaloye expressed concern over Nigeria’s descent towards a one-party state
“I am particularly pained because when one party stands in the middle of a ballot, and we are looking for the rest of the political parties. When some of us talk, it looks like our mouths are smelling”, Seun said during the program.
The FCT Minister however, during a live media chat, lashed out saying, “If there’s anyway to broke (sic) the screen, I would have shot him,” while criticising Okinbaloye’s views and interview style.
Amnesty International, a global human rights group has condemned Wike’s verbal threat, describing it as “reckless and violent”, while demanding a retraction and apology from him.
The group noted in a statement on Saturday: “Amnesty International strongly condemns the reckless and violent language of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr. Nyesom Wike in which he stated that he can respond to a statement by a journalist with shooting. Mr. Wike stated on live television that: “If there’s anyway to broke (sic) the screen, I would have shot him…”
“Apart from inciting violence, Wike’s remarks violated Nigeria’s broadcasting code that the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is supposed to be enforcing.
“What Wike said carries the danger of normalizing violence and encouraging the targeting of journalists for just doing their job. This level of violent intent coming from a member of Nigeria’s federal cabinet is unlawful and unacceptable. Mr. Wike must withdraw his violent statement immediately and apologize.”
A similar statement has been issued by 14 civil society groups demanding apology from the FCT Minister, noting that Wike’s utterances undermined freedom of expression and the press.
The groups include: International Press Institute (IPI), Nigeria International Press Centre (IPC), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Enough is Enough Nigeria (EIE), Centre for Journalism Innovation & Development (CJID), Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), and YIAGA Africa.
Others are the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Global Rights, Dataphyte Foundation, Accountability Lab Nigeria, TechHer, Kebekatche Women Development Resource Centre, and DigiCivic Initiative.
A statement released by the groups on Saturday condemning the Minister’s outbursts read in part:
“The undersigned network of press freedom, freedom of expression and civil society organisations strongly condemns the recent remarks made by FCT Minister, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who stated during a live media chat aired on Channels Television on Friday, 3 April 2026, that: ‘If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him.”
