Gbiniyiri Boat Disaster: Several feared dead as land dispute violence escalates in Savannah Region

Several residents of Gbiniyiri, a community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region, are feared dead after their boat capsized on the White Volta near the Dinie-Tuonbo enclave.

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Eyewitness reports suggest the victims were part of a group fleeing to neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire following violent clashes over a longstanding land dispute. The conflict has already claimed about ten lives and left several others injured.

The Savannah Regional NADMO Director, Mahama Zakaria, confirmed that six passengers were rescued, while many more remain missing in the river. A joint NADMO-led search and rescue team has since been dispatched to recover those still unaccounted for.

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Roots of the Clashes

The violence, which broke out on Sunday, August 24, stemmed from renewed tensions over disputed land ownership. Initial reports indicate that at least six people were killed, with others sustaining severe injuries, as per 3News.

Tensions reportedly escalated after the chief of Gbenyiri returned to his community. In a show of respect, the chief of Kalba instructed his son to escort him, but they were allegedly ambushed by a rival faction. This confrontation sparked fresh violence, during which the chief of Kalba was killed.

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Escalation of Violence

By Tuesday, August 26, the conflict had intensified further when the Chief’s Palace was set ablaze, fueling fears that the clashes could spill over into a larger regional crisis.

In response, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, deployed 300 police and military personnel to the area. He, alongside other senior security officials, engaged with local chiefs and opinion leaders to help restore calm and prevent further escalation.