On October 19, 1986, the founding Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine and pioneer of investigative journalism, Sumonu Oladele Giwa, was assassinated.
Dele Giwa, 39, was killed by a parcel bomb at his residence, No. 25, Talabi Street, off Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
The ace journalist was in his study with Kayode Soyinka, Newswatch London Bureau Chief, when a parcel marked “Confidential” and bearing the Nigerian coat-of-arms, inscribed “From the Commander-in-Chief,” was delivered to him.
As he attempted to open it, the parcel exploded, shattering his lower body. He was rushed to the First Foundation Hospital, Ikeja, where he later died from his injuries. Soyinka survived with perforated eardrums.
Born on March 16, 1947, in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Giwa had worked with The New York Times and the Daily Times before co-founding Newswatch in 1984 alongside Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, and Yakubu Mohammed. The magazine redefined investigative journalism in Nigeria.
Days before his death, Giwa had been interrogated by officials of the State Security Service (SSS) over allegations that he was planning to destabilise the government of the then Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida.
Forty years after, his assassination remains unresolved and continues to symbolise the dangers faced by journalists and the price of press freedom in Nigeria.
