Gunmen have killed the former Peoples Democratic Party chairman of Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State, Aondoakaa Yaiyol.

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 circumstance and his house burnt.

The PDP state publicity secretary, Tim Nyior confirmed the assassination of Yaiyol in a telephone call 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 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. (Saturday PUNCH, excluding headline)