Dele Giwa: NGE Demands Justice 40 Years After Murder

The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called on relevant authorities to revisit the unresolved assassination of renowned Nigerian journalist Dele Giwa, insisting that the passage of 40 years must not end the pursuit of justice.

Giwa, co-founder and first editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine, was killed on October 19, 1986, when a parcel bomb delivered to his home in Lagos exploded. Four decades after the incident, no one has been held accountable for his murder.

In a statement issued to mark the 40th anniversary of his death, NGE President Eze Anaba and General Secretary Onuoha Ukeh described the unresolved case as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to press freedom, accountability and the rule of law.

The Guild urged the authorities to review available evidence, preserve relevant records and pursue all lawful avenues to establish the circumstances surrounding Giwa’s death.

“Forty years is a long time to wait for justice. It is an unconscionably long time for a nation that claims to uphold the rule of law,” the Guild said.

However, the NGE cautioned against trial by media, stressing that its demand was for a credible investigation rather than the condemnation of individuals without sufficient evidence.

The organisation described Giwa as a journalist known for his courage, intellectual depth and commitment to investigative reporting. It said his work demonstrated the importance of journalism in questioning those in power and holding public officials accountable.

According to the Guild, his assassination was not merely the killing of an individual but also an attack on the freedom to ask questions, expose wrongdoing and inform the public.

The NGE expressed concern that the failure to resolve the case could send a troubling message to journalists investigating corruption, abuses of power and the activities of influential individuals.

It also urged editors to protect newsroom independence, publishers to resist intimidation and journalists to maintain accuracy, fairness and professional discipline amid disinformation, political propaganda and economic pressures.

The Guild stressed that press freedom required more than constitutional guarantees, calling for independent media institutions, responsible journalism and effective enforcement of laws protecting journalists and citizens.

It further warned against limiting Giwa’s remembrance to annual commemorations without concrete efforts to establish the truth about his killing.

“Remembrance without action risks becoming an elaborate way of accommodating injustice,” the Guild said.

The NGE also commended NEWSWATCH Plus Limited and Ray Ekpu, the only surviving member of the original Newswatch quartet, for preserving Giwa’s professional legacy through the publication of Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism.

The book documents Giwa’s writings for Daily Times, Sunday Concord and Newswatch magazine, alongside tributes from journalists, friends and contemporaries.

The Guild called on journalism schools and newsrooms to preserve Giwa’s professional ideals and encourage younger journalists to appreciate the sacrifices made by earlier generations in defending press freedom.

It maintained that protecting journalists was a shared responsibility, noting that attacks on media practitioners also threaten citizens’ access to reliable information.

The NGE urged successive governments to recognise that the responsibility to investigate serious crimes does not expire with time or changes in political leadership.

“A parcel bomb may have ended Dele Giwa’s life, but it could not extinguish the ideals he represented,” the Guild said.

It added that the questions surrounding his assassination remained unanswered and that the search for justice must continue.