Global human rights organisation Amnesty International has strongly condemned remarks made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing his comment about shooting a journalist as dangerous, unlawful, and capable of inciting violence against media professionals.
In a statement addressing the controversy, Amnesty International criticised the minister’s televised remark in which he said, “If there’s anyway to broke (sic) the screen, I would have shot him…” The organisation warned that such rhetoric, particularly from a senior government official, risks normalising hostility toward journalists and undermining press freedom in Nigeria.
The group argued that the statement goes beyond an expression of frustration, characterising it as “reckless and violent language” that could embolden attacks on media practitioners carrying out their duties. It added that comments of this nature raise serious concerns about the safety of journalists and may contravene broadcasting standards expected to be enforced by regulators.
Amnesty International further stressed that public officials have a responsibility to promote lawful conduct and protect fundamental freedoms, including freedom of the press, noting that statements made in public forums carry broader implications for democratic accountability and governance.
The organisation called on the minister to withdraw the remark and issue a public apology, warning that failure to do so could set a troubling precedent. It also urged regulatory authorities to ensure that public discourse, especially on broadcast platforms, does not encourage violence or intimidation.
However, the minister’s camp has pushed back against the criticism, insisting the comment was taken out of context. In a statement issued on Saturday, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said the remark was not intended as a threat but rather an expression of frustration during a live media interaction.
Olayinka explained that the comment, made during a media parley in Abuja, was directed at the perceived conduct of a journalist rather than a personal attack. He said Wike was displeased that the journalist appeared to take a position on a political issue instead of maintaining neutrality.
“The Minister never meant that he will shoot Seun Okinbaloye. They even spoke on phone today, and he (Okinbaloye) understood what the minister meant,” Olayinka said.
He further described the statement as exaggerated rhetoric intended to emphasise a point, adding that the minister had clarified during the programme that he did not mean he would carry out any act of violence. According to him, the comment was made in a hyperbolic context and should not be interpreted literally.
“The statement made by the Minister was in hyperbolic context, which was clearly without intent. It was primarily using exaggeration to make a point,” he added, urging the public to disregard what he described as attempts to misrepresent the comment for political purposes.
