The Curious Case of Dele Giwa

On October 19 1986, Dele Giwa received a parcel while sitting in his study with a friend , Kayode Soyinka. When he opened it, the content killed him as it turned out to be a bomb. He was thirty nine years old.
Dele Giwa whose birth name was Sumonu Oladele Giwa was born on March 16 1947. His family worked in the palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi. He did well in school and pursued a higher education in the United States of America, earning a B.A in English, he worked with the New York Times as a news assistant for four years before relocating back to Nigeria to work for the Daily Times.
In 1984 Dele along with other journalists, Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohammed founded their own magazine which they named Newswatch, the first edition was released on 28 January 1985. It was praised as a trailblazing publication.
And when General Ibrahim Babangida came in as head of state in August 1985, his face was on the cover four times. His detractors were also criticized by the publication. The paper soon started to criticize the new head of state.
Giwa’s harsh criticism of the government and its policies earned him two invitations to the SSS headquarters. He started to confide in friends that he feared for his life and safety. His friend and Minister of Communications Tony Momoh reportedly told him not to worry and reassured him of his safety but promised to look into the matter.
On October 18, a day before the bombing, Colonel Halilu Akilu of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) -who had previously questioned Giwa on the phone over allegations that he had been speaking to people about arms importation-called to inquire about driving directions to Giwa’s house, Giwa’s wife asked why he wanted directions to the house and he said he only wanted to stop by.
The next day, Giwa called Akilu to ask why he was looking for him and Akilu said he wanted to tell him the matter had been resolved to which Giwa said he had taken it up with his lawyer Gani Fawehinmi. Akilu told Giwa there was no need for that.

Forty minutes after the phone conversation with Akilu, a parcel arrived for Giwa which was handed to Giwa’s son Billy by the guard. According to Billy, the letter carried the seal of the Nigerian coat of arms. Billy stated that this was not the first time his father had received letters from the government.
When Giwa received the package he was with Kayode Soyinka( London Bureau of Newswatch), Soyinka excused himself to use the restroom when he heard a deafening sound. Giwa had opened the parcel which exploded and wounded him, he was rushed to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
The government denied any hand in the tragedy and for thirty seven years the case has remained cold. The question still remains, “Who killed Dele Giwa?”