By: The Fatu Network Newsdesk
The Gambia Police Force has issued a statement addressing the death of 27-year-old Omar Badjie in Mandinary, an incident that has sparked unrest, condemnation from civil society, and calls for a full investigation.
According to the police, Badjie collapsed and lost consciousness while fleeing during a routine visibility patrol on Friday, September 26th. Officers say they encountered a group of young men suspected of smoking prohibited substances, who dispersed upon seeing the patrol. Badjie was rushed to the Banjulinding Health Centre and later referred to Kanifing General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The statement noted that following the news, groups of youths attacked officers and vandalised the Mandinary Police Post, prompting reinforcements from the Police Intervention Unit. Roads were blocked and tyres set ablaze before security forces dispersed the crowds using tear gas. Twelve police officers reportedly sustained serious injuries, the Mandinary Police Post was badly damaged, and 19 people were arrested in connection with the violence. The police expressed condolences to Badjie’s family and promised a diligent investigation into the circumstances of his death.
While the police attribute Badjie’s death to a collapse during flight, Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) has accused officers of downplaying what it describes as possible “serious abuse of power.” After visiting the family, the group said visible injuries on Badjie’s body, including trauma around the neck, “strongly suggest he was beaten to death.” GALA rejected the claim that a fall explains his injuries, citing eyewitnesses who alleged he was assaulted before being taken to hospital.
“This is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern of police brutality and impunity,” the group said, demanding the suspension and prosecution of officers involved and an autopsy by an independent examiner.
Badjie’s mother has also publicly challenged the police account, saying she could not accept that her son “simply fell and died.”
Kanifing Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda has joined calls for accountability, describing the case as “a symptom of a bigger issue” within the police. In a statement posted on Friday, he said: “Police brutality against vulnerable youths has existed in the Gambia Police Force since the 90s and points to a systemic issue. This case must be investigated thoroughly.”
The police say investigations are ongoing and that anyone found responsible will face the law. Meanwhile, civil society and political voices are pressing for an inquiry that is independent and transparent.
The incident has revived public debate over police brutality, accountability, and community relations in The Gambia. While order has reportedly been restored in Mandinary, the demand for justice in the case of Omar Badjie continues to grow.
