Tragedy struck at the Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC, Edo, on Monday, as three members of staff of the company were killed by gunmen while working on their plantation in Benin, Edo.
The Public Relations Officer of the company, Fidelis Olise, who confirmed the incident to journalists on Tuesday, said that the killing was done by unknown persons.
Olise, who maintained that the company enjoyed cordial relationships with the communities in the locality, said that he could not confirm if members of the communities were involved in the attack.
This was just as he confirmed that the incident had been reported the the police and investigation was already ongoing.
“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.
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adegboye, who described the incident as shocking, added that more policemen had been deployed by the State Command to the area to forestall a repeat of the attack and maintain peace.
The police were topnotch hinting that the attackers were from a neighbouring state, adding that efforts were on to arrest the culprits and bring them to book.
He also said that the police were working with the management of Okomu to perfect ways of making the environment safer for its staff at all times.
According to him, “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 working to ensure that the culprits are arrested.
“We will not allow such an occurrence to happen in the state again,” Adegbite assured.
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