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Former military president Ibrahim Babangida denies involvement in Dele Giwa’s 1986 assassination, calling him a valued friend. In his memoir A Journey in Service, IBB claims the murder was a ploy to destabilize his government. He expresses hope that the truth about Giwa’s killing will eventually be uncovered.

Former military president Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has denied involvement in the assassination of veteran journalist Dele Giwa, who was killed by a parcel bomb in October 1986. In his newly released autobiography, A Journey in Service, IBB described Giwa as a close friend whose insights on national issues he deeply valued.

Addressing the longstanding allegations in Chapter 10 of his memoir, Babangida expressed shock over Giwa’s murder, calling it a tragic event that deeply shook the nation. He claimed that the timing of the incident, coming shortly after the OIC crisis that led to the removal of his deputy, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, suggested an attempt to destabilize his administration.

The former head of state said he believed Giwa’s assassination was designed to target him emotionally and politically, as the journalist was widely respected. He criticized the media for what he called an adversarial approach that hindered the investigation.

Babangida recalled the reopening of the case under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, stating that no new evidence emerged to implicate anyone. He lamented that Giwa’s murder, like many mysterious killings, remains unsolved.

Despite ongoing suspicions, IBB insisted that he was not responsible and expressed hope that the truth would eventually be uncovered. His memoir offers a rare glimpse into his perspective on one of Nigeria’s most controversial assassinations, a case that continues to fuel debates decades later.