At least five people have been confirmed dead and six others injured in a violent land dispute that broke out on Sunday morning at Gbiniyiri, a farming community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region.

According to reports, the clash was triggered by a disagreement over a parcel of land sold by the local chief to a private developer.

Tensions escalated when the developer attempted to access the property to begin construction, sparking resistance from some community members.

District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Sinkina Saaka, confirmed the incident, explaining that the violence was rooted in a longstanding dispute.

Speaking to Graphic Online, he stated

“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,” Mr Saaka said.

The confrontation quickly turned violent, leaving five people dead. Six others sustained various degrees of injury, with three reported to be in critical condition.

Security forces have since intervened. A joint team of military and police personnel has been deployed to Gbiniyiri to restore calm and prevent further escalation.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing to bring those responsible for the violence to book.