The face of Delta State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, has surfaced amid growing controversy surrounding the death of a Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, following an alleged assault at the commissioner’s office in Asaba.
According to reports emerging from Asaba, the incident occurred at the Delta State Secretariat after a confrontation involving Adeda and officials connected to the Ministry of Secondary Education. Reports alleged that the deceased was physically assaulted and subsequently found in a critical condition before he was taken to hospital, where he later died.
However, the allegation that Commissioner Ashibogwu personally ordered the assault has not been independently established, and it remains a matter for investigation.
The Delta State Police Command has confirmed that it has commenced a homicide investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death. Police spokesperson Bright Edafe said three aides to the commissioner were named in the complaint relating to the incident.
The police identified the three persons as Enos Attah, Oputa Okestine and Lucky Adoh with Lucky Adoh reportedly arrested while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the other two. The Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department’s Homicide Section to investigate the case.
The development has triggered strong reactions among workers and organised labour in Delta State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State Council* subsequently declared an *indefinite strike, with Chairman Goodluck Oforbruku announcing the action while addressing protesting civil servants at the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat in Asaba. Workers had earlier shut down the secretariat in protest over the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death.
The incident has consequently generated demands for transparency, accountability and a thorough investigation into what transpired inside the ministry.
Dr. Ashibogwu is the serving Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, according to the ministry’s official management page. He assumed responsibility for secondary education in January 2026 after previously serving as Commissioner for Primary Education.
As investigations continue, attention is now focused on establishing the sequence of events that preceded Adeda’s death, the precise roles allegedly played by those named in the complaint, and whether any further individuals will be implicated.
The photograph above shows Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, whose name has become central to the controversy following the death of the Deputy Director. The allegations against him remain allegations and have not been established by a court.*
