19/10/2025
On October 19, 1986, an unthinkable tragedy unfolded in Nigeria, marking the loss of one of the country’s most respected voices in journalism. Dele Giwa, the dynamic editor and co-founder of the acclaimed magazine Newswatch, was in the comfort of his dining room, deep in conversation with Kayode Soyinka, the magazine’s London correspondent who had just returned from the UK for a visit.
Suddenly, Billy, Dele’s young son, burst into the room, holding a mysterious parcel he had received from the gate. Eagerly, he handed it over to his father, who noticed that the envelope bore an official seal and a chilling message: “To be opened by addressee only.”
“I bet this is from the Presidency,” Giwa remarked, a statement that would tragically be his last. As he opened the package on his lap, a deafening explosion shattered the air. The blast devastated his pelvis and ignited a fire that engulfed parts of the house. Cars parked nearby were also damaged in the chaos.
In a desperate race against time, Giwa was rushed to a local hospital, but sadly, he succumbed to his injuries. His wife and baby daughter were spared from harm, but the devastation was profound.
That fateful day, Nigeria lost a brilliant editor and a courageous journalist, a man whose legacy continues to resonate even 39 years later.
Photo: The renovated house where the explosion occurred (left) and a colorized image of Dele Giwa.
Credit: Ethnic African Stories
