Rita Enemuru, Reporting
TENSION is said to have gripped parts of Asaba, the Delta State capital, following the death of Mr Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a Deputy Director in the state Ministry of Secondary Education, after an alleged assault at the office of the Commissioner for Secondary Education.
The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one suspect and launched a manhunt for two others said to be linked to the incident.
In a statement issued on Friday, 25 September 2026, the command’s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, named the suspects as Enos Attah, Oputa Okestine and Lucky Adoh.
According to Mr Edafe, the command acted swiftly after receiving complaints about the incident, arresting Mr Adoh while efforts continue to apprehend the remaining two suspects.
“The command, upon receipt of the complaints, immediately swung into action and arrested one of the suspects, Lucky Adoh, while a serious manhunt for the other suspects is ongoing,” the statement read.
Reports surrounding the incident suggest that Mr Adeda was involved in a disagreement with some staff members of the ministry before the matter was escalated to the office of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu.
It is alleged that the disagreement boiled over at the commissioner’s office, where Mr Adeda was reportedly assaulted by individuals said to be attached to the commissioner.
He was subsequently taken to hospital, where he received treatment and was discharged. His condition is said to have deteriorated thereafter, leading to his eventual death.
The police have yet to establish the cause of death and have not confirmed that the alleged assault was responsible.
Following the development, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, directed the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to commence a detailed investigation into both the alleged assault and Mr Adeda’s death.
The command said investigators would examine all available evidence, including relevant video footage, eyewitness accounts, medical records and the actions of all persons connected with the incident.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and determine whether any individual has a case to answer.
The incident has reportedly sparked concern among civil servants in Asaba, with workers seeking clarification over the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and the death of the senior education official.
Reports suggesting that activities at the state secretariat were disrupted could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.
CP Erale assured Mr Adeda’s family and members of the public that the police would not shield anyone found culpable, regardless of the person’s position or status.
He pledged that the investigation would be conducted professionally and transparently, without interference, while urging the public to refrain from drawing conclusions before the facts are fully established.
The police commissioner expressed his condolences to Mr Adeda’s family and reiterated the command’s commitment to pursuing justice without fear or favour.
The identities and roles of the other persons allegedly involved, as well as the precise circumstances that led to Mr Adeda’s death, are expected to become clearer as the investigation progresses.
