Former military leader Ibrahim Babangida has denied involvement in Dele Giwa’s assassination, stating he hopes the truth will be uncovered
[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ormer Nigerian military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), has refuted allegations of involvement in the assassination of veteran journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch, Dele Giwa.
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Giwa, known for his bold criticism of Babangida’s regime, was killed by a parcel bomb at his Ikeja, Lagos home on October 19, 1986.
His assassination remains one of Nigeria’s most controversial and unsolved murders.
Two days before Giwa’s death, a senior official from the Directorate of Military Intelligence accused him of stockpiling arms for a socialist revolution.
Concerned by the allegations, Giwa sought legal counsel from human rights lawyer Gani Fawehinmi.
The following day, Colonel Halilu Akilu, a security chief, called Giwa to assure him that the issue had been a misunderstanding and had been resolved.
Hours later, a government representative arrived at Giwa’s residence with a parcel marked “To be opened by addressee only,” bearing the seal of the Presidency.
Giwa, seated at the dining table with Newswatch‘s London correspondent, Kayode Soyinka, opened the parcel, triggering an explosion that took his life.
His murder remains a subject of speculation and controversy.
In his newly launched autobiography, A Journey in Service, presented in Abuja, Babangida dismissed claims of his involvement, criticising the media’s role in shaping public perception.
“The hysteria of the media did not help the investigation of the Giwa murder,” Babangida wrote, adding that Nigeria’s press has historically viewed the government as an adversary.
He stated that when the case was reopened during the Obasanjo administration’s Oputa Panel hearings, no new evidence emerged to implicate him or the government.
“The Giwa case, like all mysterious murders, has remained unsolved after so many years. I keep hoping it will be uncovered in our lifetime or after us,” Babangida said.
The book presentation was a high-profile event attended by President Bola Tinubu and former leaders, including ex-presidents, former military heads, and business moguls like Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
Also present were former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Yemi Osinbajo, along with political figures such as Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Also read: ‘Support them’ Ibrahim Babangida urge Nigerians to cooperate with military
The event’s keynote address was delivered by former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, with Sierra Leone’s ex-President Ernest Koroma also in attendance. The occasion attracted governors, industrialists, technocrats, and traditional rulers.
