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.

The PUNCH 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 Area, appealed for calm among members of the community advising them not to take laws into their own hands.

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.

The PUNCH 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.