The Dele Giwa murder remains unsolved 40 years after a parcel bomb killed the journalist. Giwa, the founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine, died on 19 October 1986. He was 39. The bomb exploded at his home on Talabi Street in Ikeja, Lagos. According to the International Press Centre (IPC), no person has faced criminal accountability for his death.
Dele Giwa case at a glance
| Victim | Dele Giwa, founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch |
| Date of death | 19 October 1986 |
| Place | Talabi Street, Ikeja, Lagos |
| Cause | Parcel bomb |
| Status | Unsolved after 40 years |
Nigeria marked the 40th anniversary on Monday, 19 October 2026. Meanwhile, Newswatch unveiled a book titled Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism in Lagos. Ray Ekpu, a co-founder of the magazine, edited it. The book collects Giwa’s writings and tributes from fellow journalists.
Press freedom groups also renewed their calls for justice. The IPC urged the government to reopen the investigation. Likewise, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) asked the Federal Government to obey a court order. That order directs it to investigate the killing and prosecute those responsible. In addition, the IPC warned against reducing Giwa’s legacy to yearly speeches.
Giwa co-founded Newswatch in 1985 with Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese. Before that, he wrote for the Daily Times and Sunday Concord. Furthermore, he spent four years at The New York Times as a news assistant. As a result, many Nigerians still regard him as a model of fearless reporting.
Over the years, the case has stayed in public debate. Late rights lawyer Gani Fawehinmi championed the cause until his death in September 2009. Premium Times reports that former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, now 85, has consistently denied any role.
No court has made a finding on who planted the bomb. Sojworldnews will keep tracking any new move on the case.
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