October 19 marked the 29th anniversary the assassination of Dele Giwa, crusading journalist and founding chief executive of the magazine Newswatch, in what remains one of the most horrific acts of preternatural malevolence ever carried out in Nigeria.
Because of the passage of time and the twists and turns on the political landscape, the anniversary generated less attention and fewer reminiscences than in previous years. But three weeks later, the circumstances of Giwa’s death leapt onto the front pages and headlines, propelled by a crack-brained theory resurrected by Chris Omeben, the since-retired deputy inspector- general of police who had supervised the investigations.
