Five dead in Savannah Region clash after reprisal attacks

A violent clash between residents and herdsmen in the Gbeniyiri area of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District has left five people dead and five others injured, according to local authorities.

The incident, which occurred over the weekend, has heightened tensions in the communities, though officials confirm it is unrelated to a previous communal conflict that had plagued the area.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Senitina Saaka, confirmed the fatalities and provided insight into the sequence of events. Mr. Saaka stated that the violence was triggered by a robbery incident in a nearby suburb, during which a resident was killed after putting up resistance.

In the aftermath of that killing, relatives of the deceased launched reprisal attacks against herdsmen suspected of being involved in the robbery. This retaliatory action quickly escalated, leading to the fresh violence that claimed the five lives.

“We believe the violence was sparked by a robbery incident… during which a victim was killed,” the DCE explained. “The killing sparked reprisal attacks by relatives of the deceased, which subsequently fuelled the current violence and casualties in the area.”

Medical and security sources indicate that two of the deceased have already been buried in Sawla, while the bodies of the remaining three victims have been deposited at the morgue of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Hospital. The five injured individuals are currently receiving treatment at various health facilities in the district.

In response to the escalating situation, security forces have been deployed to reinforce peace in Gbeniyiri and its surrounding communities. The DCE confirmed that investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the bloodshed.

Authorities are appealing for calm as they work to de-escalate the situation and prevent further reprisals.