Gunmen have assassinated Aondoakaa Yaiyol, the commander of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Services, in the Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State.
Reports indicate that the attack occurred on Friday night, June 20, 2025, when the assailants stormed Yaiyol’s residence in Wannune, the headquarters of Tarka LGA.
Yaiyol was shot at close range by the attackers, who arrived on motorcycles. Tragically, Yaiyol lost his wife under similar circumstances last year, and his home was previously burned down.
Tim Nyior, the publicity secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, confirmed Yaiyol’s death to Punch on Saturday.
“It is 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, Joseph Har, described it as an ‘assassination.’
“It was an assassination of the commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services, Aondoakaa Yaiyol. They (gunmen) came on a bike and shot him at close quarters and fled., Har said.
“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 who attacked and k1lled 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, Udeme Edet, said that police were on the trail of the suspect.
“Immediately, police in Tarka received the report, a team of officers was detailed to arrest him (the k!ller), and they trailed him to his hideout, but he escaped before officers could reach there.
Edet assured that the suspect would soon be apprehended.
