Dele Giwa

Pioneering Nigerian investigative journalist and founding editor of Newswatch magazine, killed by a parcel bomb bearing the Nigerian presidential seal at his Lagos home in 1986 — four days after being interrogated by the State Security Service. No one has ever been charged.

Field	Details
Full Name	Dele Giwa
Born	March 16, 1947, Ugbekpe Ekperi, Edo State, Nigeria
Died	October 19, 1986
Age at Death	39
Location of Death	Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Cause of Death	Parcel bomb explosion
Official Ruling	Homicide (unsolved — no arrests or charges in nearly 40 years)
Alleged Intelligence Connection	Nigerian State Security Service (SSS), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), military government of General Ibrahim Babangida
Victim Was Intel Employee	No
Category	Journalist / Investigator

Assessment: HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS

Dele Giwa was murdered by a letter bomb that bore the seal of the Nigerian presidency — a device requiring military-grade expertise that had never before been used in Nigeria and has never been used since. The SSS had interrogated him just four days before the bombing. Despite decades of calls for justice, no investigation has ever been conducted to a conclusion, and no one has been charged. The sophistication of the device, the state insignia on the package, and the timing immediately after an intelligence agency confrontation all point toward state involvement.

Circumstances of Death

On the morning of October 19, 1986, a dispatch rider on a motorbike delivered a parcel to Dele Giwa's residence in Ikeja, Lagos. The package bore the inscription "From the office of the C-in-C" (Commander-in-Chief) and carried the Seal of the President of Nigeria.

Giwa was at home with fellow journalist Kayode Soyinka. According to Soyinka's account, Giwa remarked that the package "must be from the president." Soyinka excused himself to use the restroom shortly before Giwa sat down to open the package. At approximately 12:27 PM, the bomb detonated on Giwa's lap, destroying the lower half of his body. Soyinka was temporarily deafened by the blast but survived.

Giwa was rushed to First Foundation Hospital, where he uttered his final words: "They got me." He died shortly afterward from his injuries.

The letter bomb was the first of its kind ever used in Nigeria — a fact that significantly narrows the pool of suspects to those with access to military-grade explosives and bomb-making expertise.

Background

Dele Giwa was born on March 16, 1947, in Ugbekpe Ekperi, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. He grew up in Ile-Ife, where his family worked in the palace of Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the Ooni of Ife. He attended Local Authority Modern School in Lagere, Ile-Ife, and later Oduduwa College.

Giwa traveled to the United States for higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from Brooklyn College in 1977. He enrolled in a graduate program at Fordham University and worked for The New York Times as a news assistant for four years before returning to Nigeria to join the Daily Times.

In 1984, Giwa co-founded Newswatch magazine with fellow journalists Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, and Yakubu Mohammed. The first edition was published on January 28, 1985. Newswatch quickly became Nigeria's most influential news publication, described as having "changed the format of print journalism in Nigeria" by introducing "bold, investigative formats to news reporting." Giwa served as Editor-in-Chief.

Initially, Newswatch had a constructive relationship with General Ibrahim Babangida's military government, which seized power in August 1985. However, as the magazine began investigating corruption and drug trafficking by military officials, the relationship soured dramatically.

Intelligence Connections

• State Security Service (SSS): On October 16, 1986 — just three days before his murder — SSS officials summoned Giwa to their headquarters. According to reports, Lt. Col. A.K. Togun, Deputy Director of the SSS, accused Giwa and Newswatch of planning to publish "the other side" of the story about Ebitu Ukiwe, who had been removed as Chief of the General Staff. The interrogation reportedly included threats.
• Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI): According to multiple accounts, including testimony from former military intelligence officer Lt. Col. Kunle Ogunade, DMI Director Halilu Akilu and SSS Deputy Director Col. A.K. Togun allegedly prepared the parcel bomb. According to Ogunade's account, Colonel Buba Marwa was allegedly tasked with delivering it to Giwa.
• Military Government: The parcel bore the presidential seal, suggesting either that state actors sent it or that someone with access to official state materials was involved. The use of the Commander-in-Chief's seal was clearly designed to ensure Giwa would open the package.
• Drug Trafficking Investigation: At the time of his death, Giwa was reportedly investigating drug trafficking by senior military officials — a story that, if published, would have been devastating for the Babangida regime.

Why This Death Raises Questions

• The parcel bomb bore the official seal of the Nigerian presidency — an item accessible only to those within or close to the government
• The SSS had interrogated Giwa just four days before the bombing, with reports of threats made during the session
• Letter bombs had never been used in Nigeria before this attack, and have not been used since — pointing to a sophisticated actor with military expertise
• According to former military intelligence officer Ogunade, the bomb was allegedly prepared by the DMI Director and SSS Deputy Director
• No investigation has ever been conducted to conclusion in nearly 40 years, despite Nigeria having undergone multiple changes of government
• The military government of General Babangida never launched a credible investigation into the bombing
• Giwa was investigating drug trafficking by military officials at the time of his death — a story that threatened powerful interests within the regime
• Giwa's dying words — "They got me" — suggest he knew who was responsible
• The sophistication of the device and the use of presidential insignia to ensure the target opened it indicate planning by someone with access to state resources

Key Quotes

"They got me." — Dele Giwa's last words at First Foundation Hospital, according to witnesses present

According to Kayode Soyinka, who was present when the bomb arrived, Giwa said the package "must be from the president" before opening it.

According to former military intelligence officer Lt. Col. Kunle Ogunade, the parcel bomb was allegedly prepared by DMI Director Halilu Akilu and SSS Deputy Director Col. A.K. Togun.

Newswatch magazine "changed the format of print journalism in Nigeria [and] introduced bold, investigative formats to news reporting in Nigeria." — 1989 description of the publication

Counterarguments / Alternative Explanations

• The Nigerian military government denied any involvement in Giwa's death
• Some have suggested the bomb could have been sent by drug traffickers whom Giwa was investigating, independent of state direction
• The military regime argued that anyone could have placed the presidential seal on a package as a ruse
• No physical evidence directly linking specific individuals to the bomb has been presented in court
• Lt. Col. Ogunade's allegations have been disputed by those he accused

Family Response

Giwa's family has spent decades seeking justice. As of the 34th anniversary of his death in 2020, family members continued to publicly call for a thorough investigation. Colleagues at Newswatch have consistently insisted on the need for a government-led investigation, which has never materialized.

See Also

• Jamal Khashoggi — Saudi journalist murdered by state agents for his critical reporting
• Daphne Caruana Galizia — Maltese journalist killed by car bomb for investigating corruption
• Daniel Pearl — Journalist murdered while investigating intelligence connections
• Arshad Sharif — Pakistani journalist killed in Kenya after fleeing state harassment

Other Shocking Stories

• Anna Politkovskaya: Shot dead in her Moscow apartment building on Vladimir Putin's birthday. She exposed Chechen war atrocities.
• Daphne Caruana Galizia: Car bomb killed Maltese journalist who exposed Panama Papers corruption. State found responsible for enabling murder.
• Serena Shim: American journalist died in suspicious crash two days after Turkish intelligence accused her of espionage.
• Aldo Moro: Italy's former PM kidnapped, held 55 days, murdered. Allegations CIA and P2 lodge blocked his rescue.

Sources

• Dele Giwa - Wikipedia
• 'They Got Me' - Dele Giwa's Last Words after Receiving Letter Bomb - Wikkitimes
• How Dele Giwa was Bombed to Death in 1986 - HistoryVille
• 34 years after murder, Dele Giwa's family seeks justice - The Guardian Nigeria
• Dele Giwa: The Journalist that Death Could Not Silence - The Republic
• Yakubu Mohammed finally opens up on IBB, Dele Giwa, Gloria Okon and the parcel bomb - TheCable

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