5 killed, houses torched…in land dispute at Gbiniyiri
At least five people have been killed, with several others injured, and houses burnt following a violent land dispute at Gbiniyiri, a farming community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region on Sunday.
The incident reportedly began after the Chief of Gbiniyiri sold a small piece of land to a resident.
Subsequently, another man emerged claiming ownership of the same parcel of land, sparking a heated misunderstanding.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Mr Sinkina Saaka, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, explained that the land in contention was so small it could only accommodate two or three containers.
He said the dispute started on Friday when one of the claimants attempted to develop the land.
“When I received the report, I went there with security officers to maintain peace. Unfortunately, by Sunday, the matter had escalated into violence,” the DCE recounted.
According to him, when the chief and his son went to the community to verify the situation, they were physically attacked.
The clashes later spread, resulting in deaths, injuries, and destruction of property.
Mr Saaka further noted that the incident had left residents in fear and panic. He said the District Security Council (DISEC) was holding emergency meetings to find a lasting solution, while a joint team of military and police personnel had been deployed to restore calm.
The DCE appealed to residents to remain peaceful, stressing that “we are all preaching peace and development in this country.”
FROM YAHAYA NUHU NADAA, TAMALE
