The South-South Professionals, a coalition of Nigerian academics, civil society leaders, and professionals, has urged the US, UK, EU, and Canada to impose visa restrictions on Delta State Government officials. They allege that these officials were involved in the assault and subsequent death of Mr. Unity Adeda, a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Secondary Education, on September 25, 2026.
The group specifically named Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Commissioner for Secondary Education Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, and other senior officials allegedly implicated in violence, intimidation, and breaches of lawful order. The SSP also called on other international jurisdictions to consider similar measures against officials deemed inadmissible under their respective immigration laws.
According to the SSP, Adeda's death was a result of a catastrophic breakdown of governance and human rights protections in Delta State. The group described the alleged killing as "not only the height of brutality" but also "most condemnable and totally unacceptable in every civilised society."
The SSP cited eyewitness accounts alleging that Commissioner Ashibogwu ordered his staff and aides to beat Adeda, who was tied up, severely beaten, and left in a coma before being taken to hospital, where he died. A photograph provided to the SSP showed Adeda alive but visibly brutalised.
The Delta State Government responded by appointing a fact-finding panel instead of immediately suspending implicated officials and ensuring an independent criminal investigation. The SSP commended the Nigeria Labour Congress for shutting down the Delta State Secretariat over concerns about worker safety.
The SSP expressed concern about an escalating pattern of violence and impunity in Delta State, citing the video-recorded assault of the governor's Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Simon Mudi, allegedly on the orders of Commissioner for Works Reuben Izeze. The group warned that Delta State had become unsafe for civil servants, opposition members, and ordinary citizens.
The SSP urged the US, Canada, UK, EU, and other international jurisdictions to consider visa bans and revocation of existing visas for Delta State officials, citing threats to public safety, security, and lawful order. They argued that the officials' alleged actions violated Nigeria's Constitution and constituted serious misconduct under the Public Service Rules.
Key points
- The South-South Professionals are seeking visa bans on Delta State officials over the alleged killing of a senior civil servant.
- The group cites a breakdown of governance and human rights protections in Delta State.
- The Nigerian group urges international jurisdictions to take measures to prevent impunity and ensure accountability.
