CRIME
40 YEARS AFTER: Dele Giwa Family Still In Tears, In Darkness Over Who Killed Their Son, Calls On God To Expose Killers, Wants Justice
40 YEARS AFTER: Dele Giwa Family Still In Tears, In Darkness Over Who Killed Their Son, Calls On God To Expose Killers, Wants Justice
Family members of late Dele Giwa have said they are still in pain, tears and darkness, 40 years after the gruesome murder of the frontline journalist.
An uncle to the late journalist son, Mr Billy Dele Giwa, Mr. Kolawole Isaac Ogunsehitan, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, Edo State, said the family has remained lachrymose and in the dark as no trace has been found as to who killed Dele Giwa.
According to him, the family is heavily pained by the dastardly killing of their son and has continued to live with the trauma for four decades.
“We are hitherto lachrymose and kept in the dark as up till now, no trace as to who killed Dele Giwa. We are heavily pained in his dastard killing and we are asking God Almighty to intervene and expose the killers of Dele Giwa,” Ogunsehitan said.
He said the family is tired of hearsay and speculations that have trailed the murder since 1986, stressing that what the family wants is justice.
“We are still in tears and tired of hearsay. We want the killer of Dele Giwa to be brought to book. For 40 years, we have been crying for justice and we will not stop until justice is served,” he added.
Late Dele Giwa, founding Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch magazine, was killed on October 19, 1986, via a letter bomb in his Ikeja, Lagos residence – the first of its kind in Nigeria.40 years after, no government has been able to unravel those behind his murder.
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The family appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and relevant security agencies to reopen the case and ensure that those behind the killing are exposed and brought to justice.
Dele Giwa, whose full name was Sumonu Oladele Giwa, was a famous Nigerian journalist, editor, and publisher. He was born on 16 March 1947 in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He attended school in Nigeria before travelling to the United States, where he studied English at Brooklyn College and furthered his education at Fordham University.
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After returning to Nigeria, Dele Giwa worked with the Daily Times and National Concord newspapers. In 1984, he co-founded Newswatch magazine with Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, and Yakubu Mohammed. The magazine became well known for its investigative journalism and courageous reporting on political and social issues in Nigeria. Giwa was respected for his intelligence, writing skills, and commitment to press freedom.
Dele Giwa died on 19 October 1986 at the age of 39. He was killed by a parcel bomb delivered to his residence in Ikeja, Lagos. His death shocked Nigeria and attracted international attention. Although investigations and public discussions followed, the circumstances surrounding his assassination remained controversial, and those responsible have not been conclusively brought to justice.
Dele Giwa remains an important figure in Nigerian history because of his contributions to journalism and freedom of expression. His life and tragic death serve as a reminder of the risks journalists may face when reporting on sensitive issues. His legacy continues to inspire journalists and advocates of press freedom in Nigeria.
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