Gunmen kill another Okomu oil worker, leave ‘warning note for Obaseki’

Gunmen on Sunday killed another Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc worker during an attack on the Imariogha community in Ovia south-west LGA of Edo state.

On May 9, Okomu Oil announced that three of its workers were killed in an attack by some armed men.

The company said three rubber plantation workers were killed in the first attack on May 6, while four others were injured in another attack on May 7.

NAN reports that a group of armed men who have been identified as “Ijaw Freedom Fighters” attacked the community near the Okomu oil palm plantation.

Rex Akpokiniovo, one of the community leaders, said one Okomu oil palm worker was killed.

Akpokiniovo added that Gabriel Okorugbe, chief of the community, sustained injuries during the attack and has been hospitalised.

He said the gunmen left a warning note addressed to Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, on the chest of the person who was killed.

“The corpse of the dead person has been taken away by the police. My house was attacked and my car burnt down by the gunmen who came into the community at midnight and started shooting sporadically into the air,” Akpokiniovo said.

“One of the Okomu workers, who resides in the community, was killed while the invaders left a warning note on his chest.

“According to the note addressed to Gov. Godwin Obaseki, the attackers, who identified themselves as Ijaw Freedom Fighters, made several demands from the management of Okomu Oil Palm Plc.

“Some of the demands included a directorship position in the Okomu oil palm company and 25 percent of the company’s shares. We are not fighting any security personnel, but Okomu oil company.”

Funsho Adegboye, commissioner of police in Edo, confirmed the incident.

“We are aware of the incident and have visited the community. We are already holding talks in partnership with sister security organisations and Okomu oil palm company to arrest the situation,” Adegboye said.