…Defends stand against threat to journalist
Aminu Imam
The Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (IBAN) has strongly rebuked Yusuf Mamman over what it described as an “unfounded and dangerous” attack on the association and its leadership, following its condemnation of a controversial remark by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, signed by its Interim Secretary Fidelis Duker, IBAN said Mamman’s criticism of its reaction to Wike’s alleged threat against a Channels Television journalist, Seun Okinbaloye, was not only misguided but undermined a broad consensus within the media and civil society.
The association maintained that its initial response was “measured and necessary”, stressing that Wike’s remark—suggesting he would have “shot” a journalist through a television screen—posed a serious threat to press freedom and democratic values.
IBAN noted that its position was widely shared by key professional and advocacy bodies, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), International Press Institute (IPI), and Amnesty International, as well as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP).
“The consensus is clear—such rhetoric incites fear, normalises violence against journalists, and erodes constitutional democracy,” the statement said.
Reacting directly to Mamman’s claims that IBAN overreacted, the association argued that singling it out for criticism ignored the unified stance of the wider media community and amounted to a misrepresentation of facts.
IBAN further warned that downplaying threats against journalists could embolden political actors and create a “chilling climate” for media practice. It stressed that history has shown that dismissing such statements as mere rhetoric often leads to escalation, including harassment or worse.
The association also expressed concern over what it described as Mamman’s “apparent proximity to power”, suggesting that his defence of a government official against the broader journalistic community called into question his neutrality.
“Journalism is not a crime. Journalists are not the enemy. They are the safeguard of public accountability”, IBAN stated, warning that defending threats rather than condemning them weakens the profession.
Reaffirming its position, IBAN said it acted in line with its responsibility to protect press freedom, and called on Mamman to reconsider his stance and align with efforts to defend journalists from intimidation.
