Tension has gripped the Delta State Secretariat in Asaba following the reported death of a Level 16 Deputy Director in the State Ministry of Secondary Education, Mr. Unity Adedah, amid allegations that he was assaulted by suspected thugs.
The development has also triggered industrial action, with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State Council, declaring an indefinite strike across the state in protest against the circumstances surrounding the civil servant’s death.
The NLC Chairman in Delta State, Dr. Goodluck Oforbruku, announced the strike while addressing protesting civil servants at the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat in Asaba on Friday, September 25, 2026.
Adedah was reportedly involved in an incident on Wednesday, September 24, in which he was allegedly tied up and beaten by some persons described by colleagues to be aides loyal to the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu. He was subsequently reported to have died from complications allegedly linked to the assault.
However, the allegations surrounding the incident, including the identity of those involved and whether they acted on the instruction of the Commissioner, have not been independently established. The circumstances leading to the reported death are expected to be subject to investigation by the relevant authorities.
The incident reportedly generated anger and grief among workers at the state secretariat, with colleagues demanding a thorough investigation into what happened to their fellow civil servant and accountability for anyone found responsible.
Amid the growing tension, the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, visited the Chike Edozien Secretariat on the directive of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to engage the protesting workers and appeal for calm.
Addressing the workers, Emu urged them not to take the law into their own hands, assuring them that the state government would investigate the circumstances surrounding Adedah’s death and ensure that anyone found culpable faces appropriate consequences.
The SSG said the government would not tolerate injustice against members of the state workforce, stressing that the safety, welfare and dignity of civil servants remained important to the administration.
Emu also appealed to the workers to maintain peace within the secretariat and return to their official duties while the government addresses the matter. He reiterated that the state government valued its workforce and remained committed to providing an environment in which civil servants could discharge their responsibilities without fear or intimidation.
The appeal, however, came against the backdrop of the NLC’s declaration of an indefinite strike, which could have wider implications for government offices and public services across Delta State if it is implemented fully.
Some workers who spoke on the development expressed shock and sadness over the death of their colleague. They alleged that civil servants had sometimes been subjected to high-handed treatment by political actors and called for an investigation that would establish the facts surrounding the incident.
The workers maintained that no amount of compensation could restore the life of their colleague, insisting that their principal demand was justice and accountability.
The controversy has also placed the spotlight on the alleged involvement of the Commissioner for Secondary Education. While the workers reportedly linked the alleged assault to persons said to be loyal to Ashibogwu, there is, at present, no independently verified evidence establishing that he ordered the attack. The Commissioner’s response to the allegations was also not contained in the information available for this report.
The state government is therefore expected to support or initiate appropriate investigations to determine exactly what transpired at the secretariat, identify those responsible for the alleged assault, establish the circumstances surrounding Adedah’s subsequent death and determine whether any official or other person bears responsibility.
The reported incident has consequently become a major labour and governance issue in Delta State, with the NLC’s industrial action placing pressure on the state government to address the workers’ concerns while maintaining calm and ensuring that the facts of the case are established through a credible investigation.
