Delta police probe death of Education Ministry deputy director, arrest aide

By James Ike

The Delta State Police Command has commenced investigation into the death of Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a Deputy Director with the State Ministry of Secondary Education, following an incident at the office of the state Commissioner for Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu, in Asaba.

The command has also arrested one of the three aides to the commissioner allegedly linked to the incident and launched a manhunt for two others who reportedly fled.

Those named for alleged connection with the incident are Lucky Adoh, Enos Attah and Oputa Okestine. The police confirmed that Adoh was in custody, while efforts were ongoing to locate Attah and Okestine.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the police, complaints received by the command alleged that Adeda was physically assaulted by the three aides before his death.

Edafe said the command immediately commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, leading to the arrest of Adoh and the search for the other two suspects.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, has directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the investigation.

The police said detectives would examine available evidence, including video recordings from the scene, eyewitness accounts, medical records and other information that could help establish what transpired.

The command said the investigation was aimed at determining the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death and whether any individual would be criminally liable.

It further assured the public that the investigation would be conducted without regard to the position or status of anyone involved, stressing that anyone found culpable would face the law.

Meanwhile, workers under the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, reportedly shut down the Delta State Secretariat in Asaba on Friday in protest over Adeda’s death and demanded a thorough investigation.

The workers reportedly locked the entrances to the government complex, disrupting official activities as they called for answers over the circumstances surrounding the deputy director’s death.

The police commissioner expressed condolences to the deceased’s family and assured them that the command would diligently pursue the investigation.

As of Friday, the police had not disclosed the specific circumstances that led to Adeda’s death or announced the findings of the investigation.

While one suspect remains in police custody, detectives are continuing efforts to apprehend the two other persons named in connection with the incident.