Rita Enemuru, Reporting
THE Delta State Police Command in Asaba has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a director in the state civil service, Mr Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, who was allegedly tortured to death by political aides of the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu.
Police sources disclosed that the victim died in a manner that has left the command puzzled. The commissioner, his political aides and police orderly have been summoned and are currently being questioned in connection with the incident.
According to reports, the director was allegedly tortured to death by the commissioner’s political boys over a lingering disagreement between the two men. The commissioner was said to have vowed to deal ruthlessly with the director if he failed to apologise over an alleged use of indecent language and an attack on him.
When it became clear that the apology was not forthcoming, the commissioner reportedly mandated his agents to deal mercilessly with the director. The battleground was said to have been shifted from the secretariat to outside, where he was taught a bitter lesson of his life. The victim’s legs and hands were reportedly tied during the torture.
In the wake of the tragedy, workers protesting the death of the Deputy Director on Friday shut the Delta State Secretariat in Asaba, bringing official activities to a complete halt.
The workers, under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), barricaded the entrance leading in and out of the Prof Chike Odozien Secretariat and demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.
Speaking during the protest, the Delta State NLC Chairman, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, said the union was deeply worried about the safety of workers and would engage the state government on the matter.
Ofobruku said the union would seek an amicable resolution but insisted that workers needed assurances that they were safe before returning to their duties.
He said the workers would resume on Monday if the government addressed their concerns, but would remain at home if no satisfactory assurance was given.
“We must assure workers that they are safe in their places of work. And whoever is responsible for this beating that led to his untimely death must be brought to book,” Ofobruku said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Joint Civil Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Benson Efeotor, said the council was making efforts to establish what actually happened.
Efeotor said he had visited the Ministry of Education and sought information about Adeda, who he said worked at the Science Centre.
He appealed to the workers to remain calm and avoid violence or destruction of government property while discussions with the government continued.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, assured the workers that the state government would not conceal the findings of any investigation into the matter.
Aniagwu said the immediate priority was to establish what happened and determine the actual cause of Adeda’s death through appropriate investigation and medical examination.
“There are different conjectures as to what may have led to the death of our brother who passed in the hospital. Perhaps, as the autopsy would have been able to establish, what transpired and indeed medical examination will determine the cause of death,” he said.
The commissioner assured the workers that the findings would be made public and that necessary action would be taken based on the outcome.
“I can assure you that nothing is going to be swept under the carpet. It will be known what happened and then the necessary action will be taken,” Aniagwu said.
Aniagwu appealed to the workers to remain restrained and commended the labour leaders for conducting the protest peacefully.
He stressed that every human life was important and deserved protection, regardless of the person’s position or relationship with others.
The state government and labour unions are expected to continue discussions on the matter as workers await the outcome of investigations into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.
Stonix News will continue to monitor developments as the story unfolds.
