Former Nigerian Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, has denied any involvement in the death of renowned journalist Dele Giwa, who was assassinated via a parcel bomb in 1986. Giwa, a vocal critic of Babangida’s military government, was killed at his home in Ikeja, Lagos State, on October 19, 1986.
Babangida made the denial in his autobiography, “A Journey in Service,” which was presented in Abuja on Thursday. He expressed his expectation that the truth behind Giwa’s murder would eventually be uncovered, stating that the media’s adversarial attitude toward the government hindered the investigation.
The events surrounding Giwa’s death are complex and intriguing. Two days before the incident, a senior official of the Directorate of Military Intelligence accused Giwa of illegally importing arms and ammunition to stage a socialist revolution in Nigeria. Giwa promptly briefed his lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, and subsequently received a call from a security chief, Colonel Halilu Akilu, reassuring him that the accusation resulted from a misunderstanding.
However, a parcel bomb delivered to Giwa’s residence later that day took his life. The parcel bore the seal of the Presidency and was marked “To be opened by addressee only.” Despite the passage of time, Giwa’s murder remains unsolved, and Babangida’s denial has brought renewed attention to this pivotal event in Nigerian history.
The public presentation of Babangida’s autobiography also marked the launch of his presidential library, attended by prominent figures, including President Bola Tinubu, former presidents, and captains of industry.
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