Three farmers have been killed by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen in Etsako East Local Government Area of ​​Edo State.

DAILY POST learned that farmers whose identities were yet to be ascertained were killed in Okpekpe community while one was attacked in Itsukwi community in the township.

It was also learned that seven others escaped with match cuts from the suspected herdsmen during the attack.

The incident was said to have happened on Monday when the farmers were ambushed by the gunmen.

DAILY POST learned that the throats of the victims were slashed with a knife by the gunmen.

A source in the community who spoke to the news said there have been a series of attacks by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen which have resulted in the death of several farmers in the community and neighboring communities.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council, Benedicta Attoh, lamented the spate of killings by suspected herdsmen and militias.

Attoh noted that attacks continued unabated daily in the area.

“My people are killed like goats daily. You heard that five or four people were killed. We cannot have the exact number of those who have been killed so far as some bodies are still in the bush yet to be discovered,” she said.

She urged the Federal Government to fulfill its primary objective of securing life and property of every citizen including Etsako East Local Government Area.

The council boss, who also lamented that the local government is on fire, threatened that the people will no longer fold their hands and see their family members killed in a gruesome manner daily on their farmlands.

Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Okpekpe, HRH Peter A. Osigbemeh, called on the federal and state governments to establish foresters to guard the forest, empowering local vigilantes and hunters.

Osigbemeh urged governments to employ rangers with the necessary security devices to enable them take control of the forest and defend themselves.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command is yet to confirm the incident as the command’s spokesperson, SP Moses Yamu, is yet to respond to a text message sent via Whatsapp.