Tension in Asaba as Delta Deputy Director Dies After Alleged Altercation in Education Ministry

A Deputy Director in the Delta State Ministry of Secondary Education, Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, has died after an alleged altercation involving Commissioner Kingsley Ashibogwu at the state secretariat.

The deceased was identified as Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Secondary Education.

Sources in the ministry told SaharaReporters, which first reported the incident, that Adeda died on Thursday after an alleged beating involving the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu, and two others said to be the commissioner’s police orderly and driver.

A sister of the deceased who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity confirmed the death but said the family was yet to be fully briefed on circumstances surrounding the incident. She claimed that a video of the incident is with the Director of Examinations.

A staff member of the ministry, who also pleaded anonymity, alleged that the altercation started when the commissioner asked Adeda if he knew him and he reportedly replied that he did not.

The staff member alleged: “What we heard was that the commissioner asked Mr. Unity if he knows him, he replied he doesn’t know him, the commissioner then ordered his police and driver to beat him up and he was mercilessly beaten… and he fell into coma before he was rushed to hospital.”

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According to the staff account, Adeda was first taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, and later to Asaba Specialist Hospital where he died and his remains deposited in the mortuary.

The source further alleged that Adeda had recently been redeployed from the ministry’s field office in Isoko South LGA and that the incident followed a disagreement with the Director of Examinations, who reportedly invited the commissioner.

The source also alleged that after the beating, Adeda was detained instead of being immediately taken for medical attention. BIGPEN could not independently verify these claims.

Commissioner Denies Allegation

Reacting, Commissioner Kingsley Ashibogwu denied ordering any beating or participating in an assault.

Ashibogwu told SaharaReporters that he received a distress call from the Director of Examinations that a man was attacking staff and threatening to kill anyone who approached.

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He said: “I rushed down to the scene and saw the man. I asked if he knows me but he said he does not need to know me, saying he will kill anyone that comes his way. I have not met him once, apart from one time he was accused of extortion and I called to caution him.

At that point, he became violent and began to attack me. I was left with wounds.”“I never ordered anybody to attack or beat him. I am not a violent person. I can’t lie against a dead body, God bears me witness,” Ashibogwu said.

SaharaReporters reported that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has been informed of the incident, while efforts to get police confirmation from the Delta State Police PRO, SP Bright Edafe, were unsuccessful as of press time.

BIGPEN reports the circumstances surrounding the death of Deputy Director Unity Adeda remain disputed. Police investigation is expected to clarify what transpired.