Commander of Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Services Assassinated in Benue
Tragedy struck in Benue State over the weekend as Aondoakaa Yaiyol, the local commander of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Services (NHFSS) in Tarka Local Government Area, was reportedly assassinated by unknown gunmen.
The incident, though yet to be widely confirmed in national media, has sparked tension and concern across the state, where insecurity remains a recurring challenge.
According to early accounts circulating among local community leaders and residents, Yaiyol was ambushed by armed assailants at an undisclosed location within Tarka LGA.
He was said to have died on the spot from gunshot wounds before help could arrive. The attackers, whose identities remain unknown, reportedly fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
The motive behind the killing is still unclear, but many believe it may be linked to the growing insecurity in the area, including clashes between criminal gangs, armed herders, and local vigilante forces.
As commander of the NHFSS in the region, Yaiyol was known for leading operations against illegal forest activities and aiding in community-level security patrols—efforts that may have placed him in the crosshairs of armed elements.
Local authorities have yet to release an official statement, but a senior officer from the Benue State Police Command, speaking anonymously, acknowledged that the incident is under investigation.
“We are aware of the report and are working with relevant security formations to establish the facts,” the source said. “No arrests have been made so far.”
The Hunters and Forest Security Services is a national paramilitary group recognized for supporting conventional security agencies in tackling rural banditry, kidnapping, and illegal logging. In many areas across Nigeria, especially the North Central, they operate as community-level responders, often taking on risks that state and federal forces are too thinly stretched to handle.
Yaiyol’s killing adds to the growing list of security operatives who have fallen victim to violence in Benue—a state that has become one of the flashpoints in Nigeria’s escalating rural conflict. Between January and April alone, dozens of civilians, herders, and security personnel have been killed or injured in attacks across communities in Guma, Logo, Makurdi, and Tarka LGAs.
As of the time of this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the assassination. Security sources say an intensified manhunt for the perpetrators is underway, while community leaders have called for calm and cooperation with investigators.
Meanwhile, tributes have begun pouring in for the late commander, with residents describing him as a fearless and committed leader who stood firm in defense of his people. His death, they say, is not just a personal loss but a significant blow to grassroots security efforts in Benue.
Further updates are expected once state authorities and NHFSS leadership issue formal statements.
