Three major press freedom and civil society organisations have risen in unison against FCT Minister Nyesom Wike after he threatened to shoot Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye, calling on President Bola Tinubu to order an immediate investigation and guarantee the safety of journalists across Nigeria.
The Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) condemned the reported threat in a joint statement, warning that press freedom in Nigeria is in a “downward spiral” marked by intimidation, harassment, and attacks.
The joint NGE-SERAP statement, signed by NGE President Eze Anaba, General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, and SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, urged the Tinubu government to urgently take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of Okinbaloye and other journalists facing threats solely for carrying out their legitimate journalistic work.
The groups called on President Tinubu to publicly direct law enforcement agencies to investigate the threats and ensure that any officials or other actors found responsible are cautioned, disciplined, or prosecuted. They also called on Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi to work with relevant authorities to probe all reported attacks on journalists and media organisations since May 29, 2023.
Although Wike has since sought to clarify his remarks, NGE and SERAP maintained that the threat should never have been made in the first place, warning that the objective of those who threaten journalists is to chill public interest reporting and undermine democratic accountability.
The NUJ issued its own separate but equally forceful response. In a statement signed by National President Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, the union described Wike’s remark as “reckless and violent” and said it constitutes a direct and unacceptable attempt to intimidate and silence the press. The NUJ said it had deliberately delayed issuing its statement in the sincere hope that Wike would demonstrate remorse and withdraw the comment, but that his continued silence deepened concerns that the threat was intentional.
The NUJ demanded an immediate and unreserved apology from Wike and called on the Federal Government to swiftly and unequivocally condemn the threat, demonstrating its commitment to protecting journalists and safeguarding media independence.
Citing data from Reporters Without Borders, NGE and SERAP noted that Nigeria dropped 10 places to 122nd position in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index. They said the continuing failure of Nigerian authorities to investigate and prosecute attacks on journalists has emboldened perpetrators and fostered a culture of impunity.
