By Abiola Olawale
Chaos erupted in Benue State on Friday, June 20, 2025, after unidentified gunmen gunned down Hon. Aondoakaa Yaiyol, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Tarka Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the development has plunged the community into fear and reignited concerns in Benue State.
Eyewitnesses recounted a scene of terror as the assailants, arriving on a motorcycle and flanked by two cars, targeted Yaiyol at close range.
Yaiyol, before he was killed Friday night, was the Commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services in the local government.
It was gathered that the deceased lost his wife last year in the same circumstances and his house was burnt.
The murder of the PDP Chieftain was confirmed by the publicity secretary of the PDP in Benue State, Tim Nyior.
Nyior, who spoke with the press on Saturday, 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.”
Similarly, the incident was confirmed by the Special Adviser to the governor, Hyacinth Alia, on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har.
Har revealed: “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 who 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.”
The New Diplomat reports that this comes after a massacre that claimed the lives of over 200 people in the Yelwata community of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
