The Nigerian Guild of Editors has said 40 years is too long to wait for justice over the assassination of renowned journalist Dele Giwa, urging relevant authorities to revisit the unresolved case.
Giwa, co-founder of Newswatch magazine, was killed by a parcel bomb delivered to his home on October 19, 1986. Four decades after the incident, no one has been brought to justice for his murder.
In a statement on Monday to mark the 40th anniversary of Giwa’s death, the NGE President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, described the unresolved killing as a painful test of Nigeria’s commitment to press freedom, public accountability and the rule of law.
The Guild said the case should not be allowed to disappear into history.
“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,” it said.
The NGE urged relevant authorities to examine credible evidence that might still be available, preserve relevant records and pursue every lawful avenue to establish the truth about Giwa’s death.
It, however, cautioned against trial by media, stressing that its demand was for a credible investigation rather than the condemnation of anyone without evidence.
“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.
The NGE described Giwa as a journalist of uncommon audacity, intellectual rigour and literary elegance, whose work demonstrated that Nigerian journalism could 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 those in authority accountable.
The Guild expressed concern about the implications of the unresolved murder for journalists investigating corruption, probing abuses of power and exposing the activities of influential interests.
It said the failure to bring the perpetrators to justice sent a troubling message to media practitioners and highlighted the need for stronger protection of journalists and effective investigations into crimes committed against them.
The NGE 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.
It said the effort would ensure that Giwa’s voice and contributions to journalism continued to inspire generations of media practitioners.
Beyond seeking justice for Giwa, the Guild urged contemporary journalists and editors to reflect on the profession’s independence from political and commercial interests.
It said the pursuit of justice required more than provocative headlines or dramatic public appearances, but also verification, courage, independence, fairness and a commitment to truth.
“Courage without accuracy can become recklessness; independence without ethics can become irresponsibility,” the Guild said, adding that journalism worth defending must be “both 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 media practitioners from threats and attacks.
The Guild stressed that press freedom required more than constitutional guarantees, arguing that it must be supported by responsible journalism, independent media institutions and effective enforcement of the law.
It warned against reducing Giwa’s memory to annual commemorations without concrete efforts to address the circumstances of his death.
“Remembrance without action risks becoming an elaborate way of accommodating injustice,” the Guild said.
The media body also called for Giwa’s professional ideals to be taught in journalism schools, discussed in newsrooms and preserved in the national historical record. It urged younger journalists to appreciate the sacrifices made by earlier generations in defending press freedom.
The Guild maintained that defending press freedom was not the exclusive responsibility of journalists, saying attacks on media practitioners also threatened citizens’ right to reliable information.
It urged successive governments to recognise that the responsibility to investigate serious crimes did not expire with the passage of time or changes in political leadership.
According to the NGE, Giwa’s legacy should serve both as a monument to professional courage and as 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,”the Guild said.