Amnesty International: Wike’s ‘Shoot’ Remark Incites Violence Against Journalists

Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his statement in which he said he could “shoot” a television anchor during a live broadcast.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the rights group described the minister’s remarks as “reckless and violent,” warning that such language could incite attacks on journalists and undermine press freedom.

Amnesty said Wike’s statement, made during a media parley in Abuja, violated broadcasting standards and carried the risk of normalising violence against media practitioners.

The organisation quoted Wike as saying, “If there’s any way to break the screen, I would have shot him,” adding that the comment not only incited violence but also contravened Nigeria’s broadcasting code, which the National Broadcasting Commission is mandated to enforce.

Amnesty warned that such comments from a public official could embolden attacks on journalists.

“What Wike said carries the danger of normalising 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,” the statement read.

The organisation called on the minister to immediately withdraw the statement and issue a public apology.

The controversy followed Wike’s reaction to comments made by Channels Television anchor Seun Okinbaloye during a programme discussing the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress and its implications for opposition politics ahead of the 2027 elections. Okinbaloye had raised concerns about the possibility of a one-party state, a position the minister criticised as inappropriate for a journalist.

Wike later clarified that he was not calling for physical harm, and his aide, Lere Olayinka, described the remark as figurative and hyperbolic, urging the public to disregard attempts to misrepresent the comment for political purposes.