The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) has refuted widespread media reports suggesting that suspected herdsmen carried out a deadly attack in Wannune community, Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State. The office described the claim as “false” and “concocted,” clarifying that the incident was an assassination unrelated to ongoing herder-related violence in the region.
In a statement issued by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, the government said the reports—mostly circulated via online platforms—misrepresented the facts surrounding the killing of Mr. Aondoakaa Yaiyol, a former local chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and current Commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services in Tarka.
Yaiyol was killed by unidentified gunmen on Friday night in Wannune, which is also the hometown of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
“The location, timing, and manner of his killing clearly show that it was a case of assassination and not in any way connected with herdsmen,” the statement read. It added that the Benue State Police Command had corroborated this position and was actively pursuing leads on the identity of the attackers.
The OSGF condemned what it called the “deliberate misinformation” linking the attack to herders, particularly coming just 48 hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Benue State, where he addressed security concerns.
“We urge the media to always verify their facts before publication,” Kuanum said. “The people of Tarka and surrounding communities should remain calm and vigilant.”
The statement concluded with an assurance that the Federal Government, under President Tinubu, is committed to restoring peace in Benue and tackling the wider security challenges facing the state.
