1 dead in fresh Bayelsa attack
Another ferry operator has been killed by gunmen on the Yenagoa-Akassa waterway in Bayelsa, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The incident occurred barely 24 hours after the killing of a boat operator on the Sangana- Igbemotoru waterway on December 13.
Community sources told a NAN correspondent in Yenagoa that the latest killing took place at Okobotuo, near Akassa in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa early yesterday.
The victim of the attack was identified as the former chairman of the Akassa Unit of the Nigerian Maritime Workers The governor of Ebonyi state, Engr. David Umahi has moved the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development Dr. Dennis Ekemankama to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon.Obinna Nwachukwu is now in charge of the Ministry for Finance and Economic Development.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Dr. Ignatius Unah Union.
His name was given simply as Mr Suku.
Confirming the development, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Nigerian Maritime Workers Union, Mr Lloyd Sese, said the deadly attacks were crippling economic activities in coastal communities in the state.
He described the death of the former union leader as regrettable and a painful loss to the labour movement in Bayelsa.
Sese pleaded with security agencies to intensify security patrol on waterways to check the recurring was moved to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He was replaced by the Accountant, Government House, Abakaliki, Dr Moses Agama.
The development happened yesterday evening at the state house Abakaliki.
Briefing journalists, Gov. Umahi cited errors in the mathematic calculation in the 2018 budget yet to be presented to the State House of Assembly by the former killings.
A source, who claimed to have witnessed the latest killing, said the assassins shot sporadically to scare away onlookers before killing Suku.
The source who pleaded anonymity, said that the killers did not collect anything from the victim after the killing.
On Dec. 14, the commissioner of police in Bayelsa announced that the command had taken steps to ensure the safety of citizens following frequent killing of residents.
No fewer than five people have been shot dead in Bayelsa in recent weeks, according to records. (NAN) Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development as reason for the minor cabinet change.
His words: “This is done in good faith but let me say that exco is not well pleased with the commissioner for finance and the ministry’s permanent secretary.
“So, we think that if we bring somebody who has a financial background in there it would help us,” he said.