In a latest development, another man has been shot dead by unknown assailants near Kalba, a suburb of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District in the Savannah Region.
According to the police, the deceased, whose identity has not been released, travelled from his home in Uro, an area without electricity, to Kalba to charge his mobile phone.
While riding his motorcycle, he was ambushed by gunmen who emerged from the bushes and shot him, leading to his immediate death.
His remains have since been transferred to St. Anne’s Catholic Hospital in Damongo by local law enforcement.
Community leaders suspect this incident may be connected to the ongoing Gbenyiri conflict, which has already resulted in numerous fatalities, extensive property damage, and the displacement of over 50,000 individuals.
This brings the total death toll of the conflict to 32.
The situation escalated on Saturday, August 23, when a dispute between a resident of Gbenyiri and the chief’s son regarding a piece of land sparked violent clashes.
The unrest intensified the following day, affecting Kalba and the surrounding areas, leaving many injured and disrupting community stability.
This recent killing occurred despite the deployment of 400 police officers to the conflict area in efforts to restore order.
It would be recalled that recently, the Inspector General of Police, Patrick Tetteh Yohunu, along with senior officials from various security services, visited Kalba, Sawla, and other affected communities to assess the circumstances.
Some residents have expressed worry over the ongoing security threat.
“With this killing, who do you think will trust the system again? Some of us suspected this to happen because the guys are still around in Kalba town, and if you deceive yourself and go there, they will just end your life like this farmer.
To me, this reaffirms the fears and mistrust in the system. The authorities need to do more than just talk and go,” he said.
