Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda: Delta Education Workers Demand Transparent Investigation Into Death
Staff of the Delta State Ministry of Secondary Education have called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a Deputy Director in the ministry.
Adeda was reportedly rushed from his home to the Asaba Specialist Hospital on Friday morning, where he was said to have died.
The development has generated different accounts and speculation among members of the public, prompting ministry workers and sources familiar with the incident to appeal for calm and a fact-based investigation into what transpired before his death.
According to some staff members, video footage from an incident involving the deceased at the Exams and Standards Department on the day of the incident had raised questions about his state at the time.
A source said Adeda, who had recently been redeployed to serve as CIE in Isoko South, had been posted to the Science Education Department, with his office located within the state secretariat.
The source, however, said Adeda later drove to the Exams and Standards Department, where he allegedly used his vehicle in an attempt to attack some of his colleagues and damaged some property.
Video footage reportedly recorded at the Examination and Standards Department, off Mariam Babangida Way, is said to be in the possession of investigators. The footage has reportedly been cited by some staff members as showing the deceased repeatedly driving his vehicle into other vehicles and property within the ministry premises.
According to the account, the incident created a dangerous situation for staff in the area before Adeda was eventually brought under control and taken to the Federal Medical Centre.
While some workers have pointed to the behaviour captured in the footage as possibly indicating that Adeda was experiencing a mental health crisis, they stressed that only a proper investigation and relevant medical evidence could establish what actually happened.
Following the incident, workers appealed to the police to conduct a discreet, professional and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.
“There is considerable ambiguity surrounding the incident. No conclusion should be reached without a proper investigation,” a staff member said.
“We are appealing to everyone to remain calm and to stop circulating unverified claims that could heighten tension.”
The workers maintained that a transparent investigation was necessary to establish the sequence of events and answer questions surrounding the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, has denied allegations that he ordered anyone to physically attack Adeda.
Ashibogwu, reacting to reports in some sections of the media, said he did not direct anybody to beat the deceased.
The commissioner explained that he responded after receiving repeated distress calls from the Director of Examinations, who, according to him, reported that Adeda had attacked people and was threatening to harm anyone who approached him.
“When I encountered him, I asked whether he knew me, but he said he did not want to know me and threatened to attack anyone who came near him,” Ashibogwu stated.
He further alleged that Adeda became violent during their encounter and attacked him.
Describing himself as a non-violent person, the commissioner urged members of the public and the media to allow the relevant authorities to establish the facts, stressing the importance of available evidence in determining what led to the death.
