The half plot of land behind the Gbenyiri clashes that claimed 31 lives
A disputed half plot of land has become the epicentre of one of the deadliest communal clashes in the Savannah Region, leaving 31 people dead and forcing more than 48,000 residents from their homes.
What began as a quarrel over ownership of the land in Gbenyiri, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District, on August 24, 2025, quickly escalated into violent confrontations between rival factions, destroying homes and scattering entire communities.
A visit to the disputed site by Graphic, revealed nothing more than an unfinished foundation, trenches, and iron rods protruding from the ground the very spot that triggered weeks of bloodshed and displacement.
Families now live in makeshift camps, while others are scattered across nearby districts or have crossed into neighbouring Ivory Coast. Several houses and properties were destroyed during the fighting, leaving survivors with little to return to.
Security forces have since been deployed to restore calm in Gbenyiri, while investigations continue into the ownership of the contested land.
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