RismadarVoice Reporters
September 26, 2026
The Nigeria Labour Congress has declared an indefinite strike in Delta State following the death of a senior civil servant, Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, after an altercation at the office of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu.
The 54-year-old Deputy Director was taken to hospital following the incident but later died, prompting police and administrative investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Delta NLC Chairman Goodluck Ofobruku directed workers to withdraw their services, saying organised labour would remain on strike until those responsible for the alleged assault were brought to justice.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain disputed.
Ashibogwu denied assaulting Adeda or directing anyone to attack him, claiming instead that the civil servant assaulted him and other members of staff.
“I never ordered any person to touch him, I never touched him,” the commissioner said, adding that video recordings of the confrontation existed.
Adeda’s sister, Ovwigho, however, alleged that her brother was assaulted and restrained before being taken to hospital.
She said she found him tied inside a vehicle at the hospital and alleged that he had sustained serious injuries.
According to her account, Adeda told her that he had been summoned by the commissioner and assaulted by men allegedly acting on the commissioner’s instructions.
The Delta State Police Command has arrested one suspect, identified as Lucky Adoh, while efforts continue to locate others believed to have information about the incident.
Police spokesperson SP Bright Edafe said the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department would conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, including examination of available video footage, eyewitness accounts and medical evidence.
The Delta State Government has also constituted an administrative panel to investigate the incident.
The panel, chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of Service, Charity Ehimen, has been given two weeks to submit its findings.
The state government said it was committed to protecting civil servants and ensuring that the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death were established.
No finding of criminal responsibility has been made, with police investigations and the government inquiry still ongoing.
