Pandemonium In Delta, Police Arrest One Over Death Of Deputy Director In Commissioner’s Office
*The Commissioner, his driver, Police orderly, and one other are on the run
*Police ordered manhunt for fleeing suspects, assured public of justice
* Delta NLC declares indefinite strike
*As Egbo called for calm, he urged the public to await the outcome of the investigation
By Ogba O. Ogba
UGHELLI – Delta Police Command has arrested one in connection with the gruesome murder of the Delta State Deputy Director of Ministry Secondary Education, Mr Unity Ekwevugbe Adeda, in the office of the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu.
According to a press release signed by the Delta State Police public relations officer, SP Bright Edafe, the Delta State Police Command is aware of reports surrounding the death of Mr Unity Ekwevugbe Adeda, a Deputy Director in the Delta State Ministry of Secondary Education.
The command acknowledged the incident that occurred at the office of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu, in Asaba, and took note of allegations suggesting that he was physically assaulted by aides to the Commissioner identified as Enos Attah, Oputa Okestine, and Lucky Adoh.
The press release stated further that upon receipt of the complaints, the command immediately swung into action and arrested one of the suspects, Lucky Adoh, while a serious manhunt for other fleeing suspects is ongoing.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, psc, mnips, has ordered the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and the subsequent death of the deceased. The investigation will examine all available evidence, including available video footage, eyewitness accounts, medical records, and the actions of all persons connected with the incident, to establish the facts and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice in accordance with the law.
The CP assures the family of the deceased, concerned citizens and members of the public that the command will neither shield nor spare anyone found culpable, irrespective of status or position. Relevant updates on the matter will be provided as it progresses.
Meanwhile, the Delta State government has constituted an eight-man administrative panel of inquiry chaired by Mrs Charity Ehimen, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, with representatives of NLC, TUC and JNC as members to unearth the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Unity Ekwevugbe Adeda in the Commissioner’s office.
The Panel is given two weeks to complete its assignment of unearthing the circumstances surrounding the death to enable government to deal fair and square with all the issues involved and within the scope of the law while commiserating with the family of the deceased and colleagues, assuring Civil Servants of the safety of their work environment.
As at the time of filing the report, tension mounted high in Ughelli, the administrative headquarters of Ughelli North council, as aggrieved persons planned a total shutdown of the council area and government activities in the council area.
Disturbed by the unfortunate news and planned protest, the executive chairman of Ughelli North, Mr Jaro Egbo, called for calm and urged the public to wait for the outcome of the state administrative panel of enquiry and police investigation.
Egbo’s plea was contained in a statement issued by him following reports of Adeda’s death after an alleged assault by the Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu and his cohort, who are at large.
“I appeal to everyone, particularly those planning protests or demonstrations within Ughelli North Local Government Area, to remain calm and refrain from any action capable of disrupting the peace”.
It would be recalled that the sky is awash with the news of the barbaric killing of the state’s own Deputy Director of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Late Unity Adeda, right in the office of the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu.
Rainbow Newspaper authoritatively report that Delta State civil servants staged a mass protest at the state secretariat in Asaba on Friday, following the death of Adeda, allegedly masterminded by the state’s own Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu.
The protesters, who gathered at the Prof. Chike Edosien Secretariat along Mariam Babangida Way, Asaba, demanded the immediate arrest of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu, his driver, Amos Atah, his police orderly, Celestine Opute, and another individual identified as David.
They also called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, the Inspector General of Police and the Delta State Commissioner of Police to immediately investigate the incident.
The protesters further demanded the sacking and arrest of the commissioner and other persons they accused of involvement in the incident.
It was alleged that Adeda died after he was beaten and assaulted by the commissioner and two others identified as the commissioner’s police orderly and driver, who are at large.
A source from the ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said staff members were informed that the commissioner asked Adeda whether he knew him and that the deceased reportedly replied that he did not.
“Though I was not there when the incident happened, what we heard was that the commissioner asked Mr Unity if he knew him; he replied he didn’t know him. The commissioner then ordered his police orderly and driver to beat him up, and he was mercilessly beaten by the commissioner, his police orderly and driver, and he fell into a coma before he was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba and later died.”
The source said Adeda was subsequently taken to Asaba Specialist Hospital, where his remains were deposited at the mortuary.
According to the source, Adeda had recently been redeployed from the ministry’s field office in Isoko South Local Government Area.
The staff member also alleged that the incident followed a disagreement between Adeda and the Director of Examinations, who reportedly contacted the commissioner.
The Rainbow Newspaper source said, “The deceased had an issue with the director of exams, and the director called in the commissioner. As the commissioner came, instead of handling the issue maturely, he ordered the beating of the deceased.”
The source further alleged that Adeda was detained after the alleged beating instead of being immediately taken to hospital.
Meanwhile, the Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared an indefinite strike following the death of Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a Deputy Director in the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
The declaration was made on Friday by the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, while addressing protesting civil servants at the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat in Asaba.
The secretariat complex was shut down
n earlier in the day as workers gathered to protest the incident.
