Assassins kill Oronto Douglas’ relative in Bayelsa

Special Assistant to the President on Research Documentation and Strategy, Mr. Oronto Douglas
| credits: 123people.com

Gunmen, suspected to be hired assassins, have killed a 35-year-old worker of the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State.

The victim, Mr. Frank Moses, an indigene of Okiki community in Ogbia, was killed in the Agudama area of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

It was learnt that late Moses was a cousin of the Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation, Mr. Oronto Douglas.

Moses, a father of two, was said to have been shot dead a few minutes after celebrating the victory of the Golden Eaglets over their Mexican counterparts with other neighbours last Friday.

He was shot a few metres from his house by the unidentified gunmen.

A family source, who craved anonymity, alleged that the preliminary investigations conducted into the killing by the family and the text messages on the mobile phone of the deceased showed that he might have been murdered in connection with labour crisis rocking the polytechnic.

The source said the gunmen had laid ambush for Moses in an uncompleted building close to his house and shot him on the head.

“The jubilating Eaglets’ supporters tried to pursue and apprehend the killers but failed. They however arrested a woman,” he said.

A reliable source at the state police headquarters in Yenagoa confirmed that a member of staff at the accounts department of the polytechnic was apprehended and was being detained by the police.

The source said the police authorities were also searching for one Zion Tei to explain his alleged role in the killing.

When contacted on the development, Bayelsa State Police Commissioner Hillary Okpara confirmed the incident.

“The police have apprehended a female suspect. But we are keeping an open mind on the investigation. We will give you an update when we complete our investigations into the development,” Okpara said.