Dispute over land in Savannah Region: Five people killed, six injured

Five people were confirmed dead on Sunday morning in a land dispute at Gbiniyiri, a farming community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region.

Six others have sustained various injuries, with three in critical condition.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, was reportedly triggered by a disagreement over a parcel of land.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Sinkina Saaka, said the violence erupted after the chief of the community sold a piece of land to a private developer.

When the developer attempted to enter the land to start a project, some community members reportedly resisted.

“It all started when the chief sold a piece of land to the developer some years ago. When the developer came to work on the land, the community members prevented him. The chief and his son later visited the community to ascertain the situation and were physically attacked,” the DCE explained.

He added that a joint team of military and police personnel were deployed to the area to restore calm.