Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Civil servants in Delta State have shut down the Prof. Chike Edosie Secretariat in Asaba, demanding the arrest and prosecution of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu, over the alleged beating to death of a Deputy Director in the ministry, Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda. The protest, which began on Friday, September 25, 2026, has paralysed activities at the secretariat as workers refuse to return to their desks until the commissioner and two others are brought to justice.
The deceased, Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, was a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Secondary Education. According to multiple accounts, he was allegedly beaten on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the ministry by the commissioner, his police orderly and his driver. He reportedly fell into a coma during the assault and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba, where he later died. His remains were deposited at the Asaba Specialist Hospital mortuary.
A sister of the deceased, who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity, confirmed the death but said the family had not been fully briefed on what led to the altercation. "Though, as we talk, we have not been briefed about what actually led to his beating to death. I was not there but that was the information at our disposal," she said. "Even the video of the incident is currently with the director of examinations in the state". A ministry staff member, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident began after the commissioner asked Adeda whether he knew him. "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," the source said. The staff member alleged that rather than taking Adeda to a hospital immediately, the commissioner ordered that he be detained again. "The video of everything that happened is with the director of exams," the source added.
The source further alleged that the altercation followed a disagreement between Adeda and the Director of Examinations, who reportedly contacted the commissioner. "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 in a mature way, he ordered the beating of the deceased," the staff member said. Adeda had recently been redeployed from the ministry's field office in Isoko South Local Government Area.
Commissioner Ashibogwu has strongly denied the allegations, offering a different account of the events. He told SaharaReporters that he was summoned to the ministry after receiving a distress call from the Director of Examinations. "I only got a distress call from my director of exams that there is a man attacking them and threatening to kill anyone that comes his way. I rushed down to the scene and saw the man," Ashibogwu said. He claimed he asked Adeda whether he knew him, but the deceased responded that he did not need to know him and threatened to attack anyone who approached him. The commissioner alleged that Adeda became violent and attacked him, leaving him with injuries. "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," he said. He was categorical in his denial: "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".
The conflicting accounts could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report. Calls and messages sent to the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, seeking confirmation of the incident and information on whether an investigation had commenced, were not responded to as of press time. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has been informed about the incident, but the state government has not issued an official statement on the matter.
The protest at the secretariat reflects the anger and anxiety among civil servants in Delta State, who say they are no longer safe at their workplaces. Workers have demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the commissioner, his police orderly and his driver. The shutdown has disrupted activities at the secretariat, with staff vowing to remain away from their desks until their demands are met. The incident has also raised broader questions about the conduct of public officials, the treatment of civil servants, and the accountability mechanisms within the state's public service.
For the family of Unity Adeda, the wait for answers has been agonising. A man who spent his career in the service of the state has died in circumstances that remain disputed and unexplained. The video of the incident, which multiple sources say is in the possession of the Director of Examinations, could prove critical in establishing what really happened. Until that footage surfaces and an independent investigation is conducted, the truth will remain contested, and the workers of Delta State will remain on the streets, demanding justice for a colleague they say was beaten to death in the place where he was supposed to be safe.
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