Babangida Denies Involvement in Dele Giwa’s Death, Calls for Real Culprits to Be Found

 General Ibrahim Babangida has, once again, denied any involvement in the assassination of investigative journalist Dele Giwa, who was killed by a letter bomb in 1986.

In his autobiography, A Journey in Service, Babangida addressed the decades-long allegations linking his administration to Giwa’s death. He dismissed the claims as politically motivated and called for the real perpetrators to be uncovered.

“I had no hand in Dele Giwa’s assassination. It remains one of the darkest moments in our history, and I regret that the perpetrators have not yet been identified and brought to justice. It is unfair and untrue to assume that my government was responsible,” Babangida wrote.

Dele Giwa, the founder of Newswatch magazine, was known for his fearless investigative journalism, exposing corruption and government misconduct. He was assassinated on October 19, 1986, after receiving a parcel bomb at his Lagos residence. His murder remains one of the most high-profile killings of a journalist in Nigeria’s history.

For decades, various reports and allegations have pointed to the Babangida-led military regime as the prime suspect, given that Giwa was reportedly investigating sensitive government dealings at the time of his death. Former security officers, including Colonel Halilu Akilu and Lt. Col. A.K. Togun of the National Security Organization (NSO), were accused of having prior knowledge of the attack, but no conclusive evidence has been found.

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Babangida insists that his government had no reason to target journalists and suggests that new investigations should be launched to finally resolve the case. However, critics argue that the Babangida administration’s refusal to allow an independent investigation at the time raises suspicion.

Many Nigerians continue to demand justice for Dele Giwa, urging the government to reopen the case and hold those responsible accountable. Meanwhile, human rights activists have called for an end to impunity in Nigeria’s justice system, stressing that press freedom should be protected at all costs.