Tension has gripped residents of the Toru Angiama community in Patani Local Government Area of Delta State as three farmers were killed by suspected herdsmen who invaded the community.
Many farmers were also reportedly abducted during the attack.
Niger Delta Herald gathered that the hoodlums killed one Mr Dennis, his son and one other person while they were working on their farm.
It was further gathered that the deceased were slain while trying to fend off the gun-toting herders and their cattle from grazing and destroying crops on their farms.
A former president of the Ijaw Youth Council, Dr Chris Ekiyor, who hails from Patani Local Government called for calm from the natives.
He also called on the government and security agencies to fish out the killers.
Dr Ekiyor urged the state government to address the issue of insecurity in the area so as to forestall any further crisis.
It was also gathered that the indigenes of the LGA, particularly parents, have continually expressed concern over the level of security risk on farmers, posed by the influx of herders into the community.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, could not ascertain if a report of any such incident was formally lodged to the command.
“I can’t remember any matter like this please,” the PPRO stated in response to enquiries from our correspondent.
In a similar development, a middle aged man was also killed by suspected herdsmen in Zarama in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The state Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah who hails from the Community, called the people to remain calm, adding that the governor Senator Douye Diri is aware of the unfortunate incident.
He said further that security agencies are on top of the situation to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
Hon Emelah was accompanied by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. David Alagoa, the Chairman of the Ijaw Youths Council Central Zone, Comrade Inodu Clever and other top government functionaries.
The death of the farmer had sparked protest in the area leading to the barricade of the ever busy East West road.
Niger Delta Herald reports that Bayelsa State enacted anti open grazing law that prohibits herdsmen from grazing openly in the state.
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