By Sunday Apah
The Delta State Government has expressed profound grief and offered heartfelt condolences to the family of late Mr. Unity Adeda, a Level 16 civil servant in the Ministry of Secondary Education, who died under tragic circumstances following a violent altercation at his workplace. Officials have given a firm assurance that justice will be delivered without compromise or delay.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, delivered the solemn message when he led a high-powered delegation of senior government officials to the deceased’s family home on Saturday to share in their pain and sorrow.
Among those on the solemn visit were the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Johnson Erijo; Permanent Secretary in the SSG’s Office, Mr. Lucky Nkemachor; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Community Development, Mrs. Kevwe Agas; and Executive Secretary of the State Pensions Bureau, Mr. Lawson Efenudu, among others.
Dr. Emu declared that the state government is deeply shaken by the incident, stressing that every human life holds immense value under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration.
“The entire state is mourning — not just the family,” he said. “He was a very senior officer, but whether senior or junior, every life means a great deal to the state and to this government.”
He noted that the full circumstances surrounding the death remain under active police investigation. Preliminary accounts, however, point to an internal workplace dispute that spiralled out of control with fatal consequences.
Governor Oborevwori has already directed the Commissioner of Police to conduct a thorough and transparent probe. Several persons linked to the incident have already given statements to the police.
In a further demonstration of seriousness, the government has constituted an administrative panel made up entirely of serving and retired civil servants. The panel’s mandate is to examine the circumstances of the tragedy and strengthen internal conflict-resolution mechanisms across the public service.
“The essence of the administrative panel is not to interfere with the judicial process or the police investigation,” Dr. Emu explained. “It is to help us rebuild our system and improve how we manage conflict.”
He emphasised that workplace disagreements are inevitable but must never be allowed to escalate into violence. Proper institutional channels exist precisely to prevent such tragedies.
The SSG revealed that the government met with labour leaders on Friday, the day after the incident, to reassure them that civil servants remain safe at work.
“We met with Labour yesterday. What they wanted was a firm assurance that justice will be done. Both Labour and the government agreed that the administrative panel must be set up and that the police must do their job thoroughly. All of these steps have already been taken. The entire justice process has begun, and we are convinced that, having seen the government’s sincerity and transparency, labour will play its part,” he said.
Dr. Emu appealed to civil servants across the state to remain calm and continue performing their duties, while reaffirming the government’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and maintaining a peaceful working environment.
“We are here to register the government’s deep concern and sincere condolences, and to tell the family that we stand with them. There will be no perversion of justice in this case,” he declared.
He urged the family to find comfort in the meaningful life and dedicated service of the late Mr. Adeda, assuring them that the government will continue to stand by their side.
Responding on behalf of the family, Mr. Godwin Akamakusi, the deceased’s in-law, thanked Governor Oborevwori and the Delta State Government for the visit and for their show of genuine concern. He appealed for a full and fearless investigation so that justice is truly served.
