I Don’t Know Who Killed Dele Giwa – Babangida

Former Nigerian military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has expressed hope that the true circumstances surrounding the assassination of renowned journalist Dele Giwa will eventually come to light.

In his newly released autobiography, *A Journey in Service*, launched in Abuja on Thursday, Babangida addressed the longstanding allegations linking his administration to Giwa’s death.

Dele Giwa, the founding editor of *Newswatch* magazine, was killed on October 19, 1986, by a parcel bomb delivered to his Lagos residence. The unprecedented nature of the attack sent shockwaves throughout Nigeria and led to widespread speculation about the government’s involvement.

In his memoir, Babangida refutes claims of his government’s involvement, attributing the stalled investigation to media sensationalism and an adversarial press-government relationship. He notes that the media’s hysteria did not aid the investigation and that the Nigerian press has historically maintained an adversarial stance toward the government.

Babangida also references the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission, commonly known as the Oputa Panel, established during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration to investigate past human rights abuses, including Giwa’s murder. He expresses disappointment that no new evidence was presented during the panel’s proceedings, leaving the case unresolved.

Despite the passage of nearly four decades, Giwa’s assassination remains one of Nigeria’s most infamous unsolved cases. Babangida expresses hope that the truth will emerge, stating that mysterious crimes are often solved long after their commission.

The release of Babangida’s autobiography has reignited discussions about Giwa’s death, with calls from various quarters for a renewed investigation to bring closure to the case.