Not fewer than seeven persons, including farmers, have been killed in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, by gunmen suspected to be criminal herdsmen.

The Edo State Police Command confirmed the killings which took place on Wednesday, at Ugboke, Oshodi, Okokodo, Ariyan and Yoruba camps, major farming communities in the local government area.

An indigene of the area, Mrs. Janet Ighodaro, who spoke to journalists in Benin on Thursday, alleged that the suspected herdsmen took over the popularly Yoruba camp as a base to launch attacks into other communities in the state.

She further alleged that she was lucky to have escaped stray bullets during the attacks, after which she ran to take refuge with her family in Benin City, the state capital.

Mrs. Ighodaro added that four of the victims were returning from their farms when they were shot and killed on the spot.

She lamented the absence of security in the farming communities, adding that when the police were contacted, they stopped at Okhokhua, a neibghouring community, and refused to go further into the bushes.

She added that they requested the villagers should bring the dead bodies to them at their location.

She therefore called on security agents to come to their rescue as a matter of urgency.

When contacted on phone, the Command spokesperson, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident and said efforts were being made to arrest the perpetrators.

“The State Police Command is aware of the incident that happened within the jurisdiction of Ekhiadolor Divisional Police Command.

“The DPO and his operatives visited the crime site and evacuated the bodies, and moves are on to ensure that the place is calm and life return to normalcy.

“Also, the Police is carrying out its investigation to effect the arrest of the criminal herdsmen who perpetuated the dastardly acts.

“The Command is bent on using every legal means to fish out the criminals,” Nwabuzor added.