The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), a network of media professionals established to advance the safety and welfare of Nigerian journalists; and the Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN), the umbrella body representing the interests of all independent broadcast stations across the country, have demanded an apology from Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who threatened that he would have shot Channels TV host, Seun Okinbaloye, if breaking his television set will give him access to the journalist.
The media bodies condemned Mr Wike’s statement, saying it is a threat to press freedom and journalists’ safety.
The outcry stems from remarks made on April 3, 2026, during a live interview on Channels Television, where the Minister, reacting to the interviewing style of Seun Okinbaloye, stated: “If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him.”
The statement drew strong reactions from key media bodies, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN), both of which describe the comment as dangerous and unacceptable.
The NUJ, in a statement issued on April 5, 2026, and signed by Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, its National President, expressed “profound shock and outrage,” characterising the remark as a direct attempt to intimidate and silence the press. The Union warned that such rhetoric from a high-ranking public official undermines democratic principles and creates a climate of fear for journalists.
According to the NUJ, the Minister’s failure to promptly retract or apologise for the statement suggests it may not have been a mere slip but a deliberate act. The Union therefore demanded an “immediate and unreserved apology” and called on the Federal Government to unequivocally condemn the comment and take concrete steps to protect journalists.
Similarly, IBAN’s Chairman, Alh (Dr) Ahmed Tijani Ramalan, and its Acting General-Secretary, Mr Fidelis Duker, issued a strongly worded statement condemning the Minister’s remarks, noting that even hypothetical expressions of violence are inappropriate for public officials and risk normalising hostility towards the media.
IBAN highlighted the already precarious environment for journalists in Nigeria, pointing out that the country ranks 122 out of 180 on the global Press Freedom Index. It warned that statements like Wike’s exacerbate existing challenges such as surveillance, harassment, and arbitrary arrests faced by media professionals.
In addition to demanding a full retraction and public apology to Okinbaloye and the media community, IBAN called on the Minister to reaffirm his commitment to press freedom in line with constitutional guarantees.
The association further announced that it may direct its member stations to boycott all media engagements involving the Minister if he fails to comply within a reasonable timeframe. This would include suspending coverage of his press briefings, media chats, and official news conferences.
Both organisations stressed the importance of solidarity within the media and civil society in resisting attempts to intimidate journalists. They warned that failure to address such incidents decisively could embolden further attacks on press freedom.
