ASABA — The National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade (Dr.) Kehinde Prince Taiga, has called on Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to take decisive action over the death of Mr Unity Ekpevbughe Adeda, a Deputy Director in the state Ministry of Secondary Education, following an alleged assault linked to the office of the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu.
Taiga also called on the Delta State Police Command to immediately arrest Ashibogwu and other individuals allegedly connected to the incident, insisting that their positions should not shield them from investigation.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on phone with The Story, on Friday evening September 25, 2026, on the development, the human rights activist described the reported incident as disturbing and urged the authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding Adeda’s death through a thorough and impartial investigation.
He stressed that the allegations remained unproven but maintained that anyone named in connection with the alleged assault should be subjected to investigation.
A Director Is Not A Small Boy’
Taiga argued that a director who had risen through the ranks of the civil service deserved respect and should not be subjected to violence, regardless of any disagreement with a political appointee.
According to him, any altercation between a commissioner and a director should be resolved through established administrative procedures rather than alleged physical confrontation.
He said, “A director is not a baby in a ministry. For him to have worked for the state government and risen to the level of a director is not a small thing.”
He added that the alleged incident, if established, would amount to a serious breach of administrative discipline and could undermine the state government’s commitment to orderly governance.
Recalls Previous Incident, Urges Oborevwori To Act
The CDHR leader recalled a previous incident at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), where an alleged assault involving a protocol officer of the governor reportedly led to the suspension and detention of a government official.
Taiga argued that the governor’s response to that incident should guide the administration’s handling of the latest allegations.
He urged Oborevwori to ensure that individuals whose actions could undermine his administration were held accountable, stressing that no public official should be treated as being above the law.
Calls For Arrest, Thorough Investigation
Taiga insisted that Ashibogwu and everyone allegedly involved in the incident should be arrested and subjected to investigation to establish their respective roles in the circumstances leading to Adeda’s death.
He maintained that the responsibility for determining culpability rested with the police and other relevant authorities, urging them to conduct a thorough investigation without political interference.
“The law has no respect for anybody, and nobody is above the law. A commissioner has no immunity that should prevent him from being arrested when he is alleged to have committed an offence,” he said.
He further appealed to Governor Oborevwori to ensure that the investigation was not compromised by the status of any individual involved.
Police Confirm Arrest Of One Suspect
The Delta State Police Command had earlier confirmed the arrest of one suspect, Lucky Adoh, in connection with the incident, while announcing a manhunt for two other suspects, identified as Enos Attah and Oputa Okestine.
The command said the Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, had directed the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident and Adeda’s subsequent death.
The police also pledged to examine available evidence, including video footage, eyewitness accounts and medical records, to establish the facts and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.
The command has urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid drawing conclusions before the investigation is concluded.
As of the time of filing this report, the police had not announced the arrest of the commissioner or the two other suspects.
