By Ozioruva Aliu, BENIN CITY

THREE workers of Edo State based Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc have been reported killed by gunmen on Monday while working on their plantation near Benin City.

The Public Relations officer of the company, Fidelis Olise, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday, said that the killing was done by unknown persons and stated that the company enjoys a cordial relationship with the communities in the area, noting that he could not say whether members of the communities were involved in the attack.

He said, “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 relationships 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, Funsho Adegboye, said that more men have been deployed by the state command to the area to forestall a repeat of the attack, it was shocking that the gunmen could carry out such an attack.

He said that the attackers were from a neighbouring state, noting that efforts were on to arrest the culprits and bring them to book.

The CP said, “Preliminary findings showed that the gunmen came from the creek in a neighbouring state, which I would not like to mention. The attack was 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.”