Nigeria human right Activist Dele Giwa

He was born in a palace, not just a palace but that of Ooni of ile-ife Adesoji Aderemi. Although not born of a royal blood but his father worked in the palace during the early 40s. Dele Giwa was a Nigerian journalist, editor, and co-Founder of the News Magazine Newswatch. He was born on March 16, 1947 in ile-ife Osun state, Nigeria and grew up in lagos. He attended university in lagos , where he obtain is degree inEnglish in year 1974.

After graduating, Giwa worked for several Nigerian Newspapers, including the Daily Times and The Concord newspaper. In 1984, He co-founded Newswatch with two other journalist, Ray Ekpu and Dan Aghese. The Magazine quickly became one of Nigerian’s most popular and influencial publications, known for its investigative journalism and critical commentary on political and social issues.

Giwa’s reporting often focused on government corruption, human rights abuses, and other controversial topics. He was a vocal critics of the military regime that governed Nigeria at that time , and his reporting frequently brought him into conflict with the authorities.

At No 25th Talabi Street off ADENIYI jones ikeja lagos on 19th of October 1986, was a mystery to the nation, since the death of the Great lawyer of his generation CHIEF GANNI FAWEHINMI, people were no longer talking about the gruesome murder that happened that day a well articulated plotted murder with a clear mission of terminating him completely, it was a brutal technological automated method of assassination, a plan well executed. Some people said he knew or had informations about some certain powerful people in the country. Some were linked to Gloria Okon whose real name was Chinyere, she was apprehended and arrested with substances suspected to be heroin, weighed about 58 grams and other hard drugs (lets leave her story for another time)

Three days to the death of Dele Giwa, he was interrogated by the officials of the state securitity service now called DSS at No 15 Awolowo Road ikoyi lagos. Four alligations were leveled against him(only one person omo people don suffer). He was accused of planning to import arms to the country for revolution. The Magazine that was co-founded byDele Giwa got distributed to the public in Jan 28 1985.

Barely 2 years after launching the Magazine, he was brutally murdered, it was a Sunday morning on October 19 1986 and they were about to take their breakfast , Giwa’s first son came in with a special parcel meant for only him. He was said to have been excited when he received the parcel saying it must have been from the president, he tried to open it and the bomb exploded and it blue up his upper legs and the lower part of his body. Until his last breath he kept moarning the refrain they got me.

Those he refer to as they still remain a riddle and mystery till this day. The manner in which the world responded, you will think the evildoer will be fished out in a week. 36 years later the people responsible for the doings have not been found. He death sent shockwaves through the Nigerian media industry and sparked widespread outrage and comdemnation. Despite several investigation and arrest of some suspects, no one has been convicted for his murder till date (hmmm God have cases to judge even if it is only in this country)

Dele Giwa was a pioneering journalist and an advocate for press freedom and democracy in Nigeria. His legacy continues to inspire journalists and activists in Nigeria and beyond

You see, don’t blame people if they don’t want to be involved in political issues in Africa. It is because those who we refer to as ‘THEY’ might come after them.

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