A former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State, Aondoakaa Yaiyol, has been killed by gunmen.
Yaiyol, who until his death on Friday night served as the Commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services (NHFSS) in the local government, was shot at close range by unknown assailants at Wannune Market.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived on motorbikes, demanded to know his whereabouts, and opened fire once they located him. The assailants reportedly fired sporadically as they fled the scene, causing panic in the area.
It was gathered that Yaiyol had previously survived an attempt on his life last year, during which his wife was killed and his house set ablaze.
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyior, confirmed the killing in a telephone interview on Saturday. He said, “It’s true that the man was once PDP chairman in Tarka LGA before his current position as commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services in Tarka. Unfortunately, his wife was killed just last year.”
Also reacting to the incident, Chief Joseph Har, Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, described the killing as a deliberate assassination.
Har said, “It was an assassination of commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services NHFSS, Aondoakaa Yaiyol. They came on a bike and shot him at close quarters and fled. After they shot the guy, they fired sporadically to scare others and then fled on a bike and they were shielded by two cars also firing sporadically to scare away people.”
The Benue State Police Command also confirmed the incident. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, operatives had already launched a manhunt for the killers.
“The incident is confirmed, immediately police in Tarka received the report, a team of officers was detailed to arrest him and they trailed him to his hideout but escaped before officers could reach there,” Edet said, adding that efforts to apprehend the suspect were ongoing.
