The death toll and number of injured persons from the latest shooting in Gbeniyiri and surrounding communities in the Sawla‑Tuna‑Kalba District of the Savannah Region have risen significantly.

New figures confirm that the number of fatalities is now five, from the initial two, while the number of injured has risen from one to five.

Two of the bodies have already been buried in Sawla, with the remaining three at the Sawla‑Tuna‑Kalba District Hospital morgue.

Apart from one of those injured whose condition remains critical and has been referred to the Upper West Regional Hospital, the rest — including a seven‑year‑old boy — are reported to be in a stable condition at the district hospital.

The Sawla‑Tuna‑Kalba District Chief Executive, Senitina Saaka, who confirmed the latest figures, said police have returned to the bush in search of more bodies.

“Yes, the police have gone back to the bush because we heard that there are corpses there. Despite what we already have in place in terms of security, we’ve beefed up with reinforcements to enable us to contain the situation,” the DCE said.

On Thursday, March 5, the Savannah Regional Police Command initially confirmed the shooting to death of two persons and the injury of one in Gbeniyiri township. The incident has since escalated, spreading to other communities and resulting in more casualties.

The DCE also recalled a recent bush robbery in one of the suburbs, in which the victim resisted his attackers and was killed. According to Mr Saaka, the killing of that particular victim triggered reprisal attacks from the deceased’s kinsmen, fuelling the current violence and casualties.