Unknown gunmen have reportedly killed three staff of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc located in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The staff were reportedly killed while working on the plantation.
The Public Relations officer of the company, Fidelis Olise, who confirmed the incident, alleged that the killing was done by unknown persons.
Olise, who said the company enjoys a cordial relationship with the communities in the area, noted that he could not say whether the perpetuators are members of the host communities.
He said that the incident has been reported to the police and investigation has commenced.
“I can confirm to you that three of our staff were killed by gunmen on Monday while they were working on our plantation.
“We enjoy cordial relationship with the communities around us and we cannot say whether members of the communities were involved.
“However, the matter has been reported to the police and we hope justice will be done,” he added.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, who also confirmed the incident, said more personnel have been deployed by the State Command to the area to forestall a repeat of the attack.
Adegboye, who described the incident as shocking, wondered why gunmen could carry out such attack, just as he alleged that the attackers were from a neighbouring state.
He noted that efforts were on to arrest the culprits and bring them to book.
The CP also said that the police were working with the management of Okomu Oil to perfect ways of making the environment safer for its staff at all times.
“Preliminary findings showed that the gunmen came from the creek in a neighbouring state, which I would not like to mention. The attack is shocking.
“However, more men have been deployed to the area to forestall a repeat, while the police in conjunction with Okomu is working to ensure that the culprits are arrested.
“We will not allow such an occurrence to happen in the state again,” he added.
