The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called on relevant authorities to reopen investigations into the assassination of renowned journalist Dele Giwa, insisting that the passage of 40 years must not extinguish the quest for justice.
Giwa, co-founder of Newswatch magazine and one of Nigeria’s most influential journalists, was killed on October 19, 1986, by a parcel bomb delivered to his home. Four decades later, no one has been brought to justice for the murder.
In a statement issued on Monday to mark the 40th anniversary of Giwa’s assassination, the NGE President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, described the unresolved murder as a painful test of Nigeria’s commitment to press freedom, public accountability and the rule of law.
The Guild urged the relevant authorities to examine any credible evidence that might still be available, preserve relevant records and pursue every lawful avenue to establish the truth about the killing.
“Forty years is a long time to wait for justice. It is an unconscionably long time for a nation that claims to uphold the rule of law,” the statement said.
The editors, however, cautioned against trial by media, stressing that their demand was not for anyone to be condemned without evidence but for a credible investigation into what they described as a grave crime against a Nigerian citizen, a distinguished journalist and press freedom.
“We are not calling for trial by media. We are not asking anyone to be condemned without evidence. We are demanding that a grave crime against a Nigerian citizen, a distinguished journalist and the freedom of the press should not remain an enduring symbol of impunity,” the Guild said.
Describing Giwa as a journalist of uncommon audacity, intellectual rigour and literary elegance, the NGE said his work demonstrated that Nigerian journalism could fearlessly interrogate those in power while maintaining high standards of professional excellence.
According to the Guild, Giwa understood that journalism was neither a public relations department for those in authority nor an instrument for flattering the powerful, but a public trust.
It said his assassination was not merely the killing of an individual but also an attack on the freedom to ask questions, expose wrongdoing and hold public officials accountable.
The NGE expressed concern that the failure to resolve the murder could send a troubling message to journalists investigating corruption, probing abuses of power or exposing the activities of influential interests.
It called for stronger protection of journalists and effective investigations whenever crimes were committed against media practitioners. The Guild also commended NEWSWATCH Plus Limited and Ray Ekpu, the only surviving member of the original Newswatch quartet, for preserving Giwa’s legacy through the publication, saying the effort would help sustain his contributions to journalism and inspire future generations of media practitioners.
Beyond the demand for justice, the NGE challenged contemporary journalists and editors to reflect on the state of the profession, particularly its independence from political and commercial interests.
It said the quest for justice for Giwa required more than provocative headlines or dramatic public appearances, stressing the need for verification, courage, independence, fairness and commitment to the truth.
“Courage without accuracy can become recklessness; independence without ethics can become irresponsibility,” the Guild said, adding that journalism worth defending must be fearless and scrupulous, independent and accountable.
The NGE urged editors to protect newsroom integrity, publishers to resist intimidation and journalists to uphold professional discipline amid growing disinformation, political propaganda, economic pressures and the weaponisation of social media.
It also called on public authorities to tolerate scrutiny and security agencies to protect journalists from threats and attacks.
Press freedom, it argued, required more than constitutional guarantees; it depended on responsible journalism, independent media institutions and the effective enforcement of the law. The Guild warned against reducing Giwa’s memory to annual commemorations without concrete efforts to establish the circumstances of his death.
“Remembrance without action risks becoming an elaborate way of accommodating injustice,” it said.
It further called for Giwa’s professional ideals to be taught in journalism schools, discussed in newsrooms and preserved in Nigeria’s historical record. Younger journalists, it added, should appreciate the sacrifices made by earlier generations in defending press freedom.
The Guild maintained that the responsibility to investigate serious crimes did not expire with the passage of time or changes in political leadership. It also stressed that defending press freedom was a public responsibility because attacks on journalists threatened citizens’ right to reliable information.
Concluding, the NGE said Giwa’s legacy should remain both a monument to professional courage and a reminder that crimes against journalists must not become permanent symbols of impunity.
“A parcel bomb may have ended Dele Giwa’s life, but it could not extinguish the ideals he represented.
“Dele Giwa is gone, but the questions his murder left behind remain alive. The man was silenced; the search for justice must not be.”
