“Benue in Shock: Gunmen Assassinate Ex-PDP Chairman and Forest Security Commander”

Gunmen have killed Aondoakaa Yaiyol, the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State and current Commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services (NHFSS) in the area.

The fatal attack occurred on Friday night. According to local reports, the assailants arrived on a motorcycle, shot Yaiyol at close range, and then fled the scene. Eyewitnesses say the killers were shielded by two cars whose occupants fired shots into the air to scare away bystanders and aid their escape.

Tragically, this isn’t the first time Yaiyol’s family has been targeted. In a similar incident last year, his wife was killed and his home set ablaze.

The PDP Publicity Secretary in Benue State, Tim Nyior, confirmed Yaiyol’s assassination during a telephone conversation on Saturday. “It’s true that the man was once the PDP chairman in Tarka LGA and was serving as Commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services before his death. Sadly, his wife was murdered just last year,” Nyior said.

Also confirming the incident, the Special Adviser on Security and Internal Affairs to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Joseph Har, described the killing as a targeted assassination.

“Gunmen on a bike shot him at close range. After the killing, they fired shots to disperse people and fled with support from two vehicles firing sporadically,” Har recounted. “Preliminary investigations suggest the same criminal who previously murdered his wife and set his house on fire may be linked to this incident.”

According to Har, the suspect was imprisoned for the previous crimes but had recently been released. “Upon his return, a feud reignited between him and Yaiyol, and sadly, this has now ended in another tragedy.”

The Benue State Police Command also confirmed the killing. Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, stated that the force is actively pursuing the suspect.

“Police officers were immediately deployed when the report came in. We tracked the suspect to a hideout, but he escaped before we arrived. The manhunt is ongoing, and we are confident he will be apprehended soon,” Edet assured.

The community remains in mourning as investigations continue into the disturbing sequence of attacks on Yaiyol and his family.