The former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has announced the death of his longtime aide, retired DSP Zamani Tanko, who died in a road accident in Abuja.

Dickson was said to have disclosed the sad development in a post on his Facebook page on Thursday, describing Tanko as a loyal aide, trusted associate and a member of his family.

The senator said he was told on Wednesday morning that Tanko was involved in an accident when his vehicle reportedly crashed into a truck in Abuja.

He said the retired police officer was taken to hospital with urgent medical care after losing consciousness at the scene.

The lawmaker disclosed that members of his team rushed to assist and took Tanko to the National Hospital Abuja.

“I joined them at the hospital. There we made arrangements for immediate treatment,” he added.

But the operation by a team of surgeons to save him was unsuccessful and Tanko died later that day, leaving Dickson, his family and staff members grief-stricken.

He wrote: “It is with deep sadness that I announce the sudden passing of my beloved departed aide DSP Zamani Tanko (RTD) who over the years has become a brother and member of my family, who served Nigeria loyalty as a police officer for 35 years and was my personal staff handling sundry issues apart from his security responsibilities.

“I got a call yesterday morning that he was in an accident. Apparently he hit a truck in Abuja. He lost consciousness and was taken to the hospital. My aides rushed to the spot and carried him to the National Hospital. The word came to me and I went there myself. We had arranged for prompt medical treatments which were offered but unfortunately after the surgery by a team of surgeons assembled to bring him back to life we got a call later that afternoon he could not make it.

I was devastated by this call, as was my whole family and members of my staff.

We thank Zamani Tanko for his loyal, faithful and dedicated service to our country and his humble and loyal service to me over the past fifteen years during which time he had become not only one of my most trusted aides but also a trusted family member. On behalf of my family and staff members who are all mourning. “We were calling him ‘uncle Zamani’ with love, and my family members are shattered now because of his death.”