At least five people have been confirmed dead and five others injured following a violent clash between residents and herdsmen in Gbeniyiri and surrounding communities in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region.
According to reports, two of the deceased have already been buried in Sawla. At the same time, the bodies of the remaining three victims have been deposited at the morgue of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Hospital. The injured are currently receiving medical attention at various health facilities in the area.
The violence, according to reports, erupted after a resident was killed during a robbery incident. In retaliation, relatives of the deceased allegedly attacked herdsmen suspected to be connected to the robbery, leading to further bloodshed.
Authorities have clarified that the incident is unrelated to the recent communal conflict in the area, which had previously resulted in multiple deaths and displacements.
Confirming the development, the District Chief Executive for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Senitina Saaka, stated that the violence stemmed from a robbery in one of the suburbs, during which the victim was killed after putting up resistance in the bush.
“The killing triggered reprisal attacks by relatives of the deceased, which escalated into the current violence and led to multiple casualties,” Saaka explained.
He assured the public that security has been reinforced in the affected communities, and investigations are underway to apprehend those responsible for the attacks.