Gunmen murder former PDP chair in Benue

Gunmen have reportedly killed Aondoakaa Yaiyol, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State.

Yaiyol, who until his death on Friday night served as the Commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services in Tarka, was said to have been assassinated in a targeted attack.

Sources disclosed that this was not the first tragedy to befall the family, as Yaiyol’s wife was also killed in a similar incident last year, during which their home was set ablaze.

Confirming the development on Saturday, the PDP’s state Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, said in a telephone conversation that the party mourns the loss of its former leader and is closely monitoring the situation.

Nyior 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,” he said.

Also confirming the incident on Saturday, the Special Adviser to governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har described it as an ‘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.

“Sketchy investigation shows that a criminal that attacked and killed the deceased wife and burnt the house was sent to prison. On his return both of them were chasing each other until this happened.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet confirmed the report and said that police were on the trail of the suspect.

“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 assured that the suspect would soon be apprehended.