Veteran journalist and former presidential spokesperson, Yakubu Mohammed, has finally opened up on some of the most controversial and unresolved issues in Nigeria’s political and media history, shedding light on the tragic parcel bomb that killed Dele Giwa, the mysterious case of Gloria Okon, and his dealings with former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB).
Naija247news reports that Mohammed, a respected voice in Nigerian journalism and co-founder of Newswatch magazine, made these revelations in a candid interview that has rekindled national debate on unsolved political mysteries from the 1980s.
Naija247news gathered that Mohammed stated emphatically that the then-military government under IBB had no direct involvement in the parcel bomb that killed Dele Giwa in 1986. He described Giwa’s death as a painful tragedy, not only for the media but for the entire nation. Mohammed revealed that their team at Newswatch had been deeply shaken by the incident, and their internal investigation raised more questions than answers.
“Dele was not just a colleague, he was a brother,” Mohammed was quoted as saying. “His assassination was a terrible blow. But I must be honest, we couldn’t prove who did it, and the government was never conclusively linked.”
Naija247news understands that Mohammed also addressed the controversy surrounding Gloria Okon, a woman who allegedly died under mysterious circumstances while in custody in 1985 over drug trafficking charges. The case drew public suspicion due to its connection to high-ranking political figures and conspiracy theories that Gloria may have been a courier for a powerful figure.
According to Naija247news, Mohammed dismissed popular speculations linking the Gloria Okon saga with the late Dele Giwa’s death, asserting that while both cases remain suspicious and unresolved, there has never been concrete evidence tying them together.
On his relationship with General Babangida, Naija247news gathered that Mohammed explained it was built on mutual respect and professional trust. He served as one of IBB’s speechwriters and close aides, but claimed he never used that position to shield the regime from legitimate criticism.
Naija247news reports that Mohammed’s long-awaited comments come at a time when Nigeria continues to struggle with issues of press freedom, transparency, and justice for slain journalists.
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Reporting by Agnes Ekebuike Editor, Naija247news in Lagos, Nigeria.
