Aondoakaa Yaiyol, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman of Tarka Local Government Area in Benue State, was slain by gunmen.
Before his death on Friday night, Yaiyol was the local government’s Commander of Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services.
According to reports, the deceased lost his wife in the similar circumstances last year, and his home was burned down.
Tim Nyior, the PDP state press secretary, confirmed Yaiyol’s assassination in a phone conversation on Saturday.
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 occurrence on Saturday, Chief Joseph Har, Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, described it as an “assassination”.
Har said, “It was an assassination of the 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 reached, DSP Udeme Edet, the officer’s public relations officer, confirmed the claim and stated that officers were tracking down the suspect.
“The incident is confirmed; immediately police in Tarka received the report, and a team of officers was detailed to arrest him, and they trailed him to his hideout but escaped before officers could reach there.”
