Delta police arrest suspect after deputy director’s death

The Delta State Police Command has arrested one suspect and launched a search for two others following the death of Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a deputy director in the state Ministry of Secondary Education. Adeda reportedly died after an incident at the office of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Kingsley Ashibogwu, in Asaba. The police identified the arrested suspect as Lucky Adoh and named Enos Attah and Oputa Okestine as the two others being sought.

The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said in a statement on Friday that police had taken note of reports surrounding the death. The statement also referred to allegations that Adeda had been physically assaulted by aides to the commissioner. According to Edafe, police moved into action after receiving complaints and arrested Adoh, while a “serious manhunt” for the other suspects continued.

The statement did not provide details of the incident or say what charges had been filed against the arrested man. Delta State Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the circumstances of the incident and Adeda’s subsequent death. The investigation will examine available video footage, eyewitness accounts, medical records and the actions of everyone connected with the incident, the command said.

Police said the purpose was to establish the facts and ensure that anyone found culpable was prosecuted in accordance with the law. The development followed a protest by workers under the Nigeria Labour Congress, who shut the Delta State Secretariat in Asaba on Friday and disrupted official activities while demanding an investigation. Erale expressed condolences to Adeda’s family and said the command would not shield anyone found culpable, regardless of status or position.