Gunmen kill former Bayelsa commissioner

Less than 72 hours after a reporter with the African Independent Television (AIT), Miss Onisofie Owei, was shot in Yenagoa, a former Commissioner, Mr Ayakeme Masa has been shot dead by gunmen.

 Masa, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from Bayelsa West senatorial district was a Commissioner for Investment. Trade and Industry during the first tenure of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson.

 The 64 –years- old deceased and father of three was shot in the early hours of Sunday in his residence along Plam Avenue, behind the popular Bolex lounge in the state capital, but, died at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa Monday evening.

 According to investigations,the alleged killers had visited his residence for undisclosed reasons and they were in the midst of an argument with Mrs Masa when the deceased walked in.

Sources close to the family said that immediately Masa saw the gunmen, he tried to escape but he was shot.

The security man called for help and he was taken to the FMC where Doctors battled to save his life before he eventually gave up the ghost, spokesman, Bayelsa State Police Command, Asimin Butswat, confirmed the incident.

He said a team of policemen from the command visited the scene and commence investigation into the incident.

 In another development, a  truck has crushed a 40-year –old woman and injured 15 others when it ran into a crowd of road side traders at the popular Swali Market in Yenagoa.

 The truck, with registration number XC 858 NNE which was conveying sand to the Swali community, was reported to have run into the crowd of traders after a brake failure.

Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Bayelsa,  Mr Igwe Ikechukwu, confirmed the development and attributed the cause of the accident to brake failure.

He said that a woman was crushed to death and the corpsehas been deposited at the morgue of the FMC.

“The accident could have been avoided if the traders had moved their trade into the designated shops instead roadside.”