Gunmen have killed Aondoakaa Yaiyol, the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State. Until his death on Friday night, Yaiyol was the Commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services (NHFSS) in the local government.
According to sources, Yaiyol had previously suffered a similar tragedy — his wife was killed under suspicious circumstances last year, and their home was set ablaze.
Confirming the incident, PDP State Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyior, said in a telephone interview on Saturday:
It’s true that he was once the PDP chairman in Tarka LGA before becoming commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services. Unfortunately, his wife was killed just last year.
The Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har, also described the killing as an assassination.
The attackers arrived on a motorcycle and shot him at close range before fleeing. As they escaped, they fired sporadically to scare off bystanders. Two cars followed, also firing shots to create panic and shield the gunmen.
Chief Har added that preliminary investigations suggest a possible link to the earlier killing of Yaiyol’s wife. A known criminal who had been jailed for that incident had reportedly resumed hostilities with Yaiyol after his release.
Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the incident and said officers had been deployed to apprehend the suspect.
The report is confirmed. Officers were dispatched immediately after receiving the alert, but the suspect fled before they could reach his hideout. The manhunt continues, and we are confident he will be arrested soon, Edet assured.
