By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
In April 2025, the quiet community of Demba Kalley in the Sami District of The Gambia’s Central River Region was thrust into the spotlight as allegations of cross-border motorbike theft and police misconduct surfaced. Four Senegalese nationals, suspected of stealing motorbikes, were apprehended by officers from Karantaba Police Station. However, the case took a troubling turn when the suspects were released, and the motorbikes reportedly disappeared.
The incident unfolded last week when residents grew suspicious of four individuals claiming to be mechanics seeking to establish a motorbike repair garage in Demba Kalley. According to a source familiar with the matter, the men, identified as Papa Ousman Dumbuya, Pap Maguclte Gueye, Musa Wally, and Muhammed Adama Jallow, arrived in the village with four new brown Jakarta motorbikes, raising immediate concerns among locals.
The community promptly alerted the Karantaba Police Station, leading to the swift apprehension of the suspects and the seizure of the motorbikes. Items found in their possession included a long cutlass, a large pair of scissors, and a small bag containing spanners, further fueling suspicions of criminal intent.
Yaya Susso, the Alkalo of Demba Kalley, and Pa Malick Sowe, a Council of Elders member, confirmed the arrests, noting that the suspects’ claim of being mechanics seemed dubious. “They said they were looking for a base to operate a garage, but the villagers were unconvinced,” Susso said.
The police escorted the suspects to Karantaba Police Station for processing, where the situation took an unexpected turn.
According to a community source who requested anonymity, Chief Inspector Matarr Sanyang, the station officer, ordered the release of the suspects and instructed them to return to Senegal to retrieve documentation proving ownership of the motorbikes. The bikes were to remain at the station until their return. However, the suspects never reappeared, and allegations soon emerged that three of the four motorbikes had vanished, with the fourth reportedly sold to Sub-Inspector Jerreh Gomez, the Assistant Station Officer, for D10,000.
The suspected that were apprehended by the community and now allegedly release by the Karantaba Police
The motorbikes’ disappearance has sparked outrage in Demba Kalley and nearby Souma Kunda, where residents fear retaliation from the suspected thieves. “These criminals have threatened to attack us for reporting them,” the anonymous source confided to the Alkamba Times, highlighting the growing unease in the community. The source further alleged that cross-border motorbike theft has plagued the region for two years, with thieves entering The Gambia through Souma Kunda to sell stolen bikes from Senegal.
This incident comes amid heightened concerns about cross-border crime between The Gambia and Senegal, particularly in the Central River Region, where violent incidents, including loss of life, have been reported. A 2024 report documented a robbery in Karantaba village, where a shopkeeper lost D100,000 to thieves, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to such crimes.
Allegations of police misconduct compound the community’s frustration. Residents expressed shock and disappointment at the reported sale of the seized motorbikes, with some accusing Chief Inspector Sanyang of orchestrating the transaction. “We were surprised to hear the Station Officer himself started selling those bikes,” the source said, claiming that the assistant station officer’s purchase of one motorbike further eroded trust in the authorities.
Sub-Inspector Jerreh Gomez, however, vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “false and misleading.”
In an interview, Gomez insisted that the four motorbikes were processed, their ownership verified, and returned to their rightful owners. He clarified that the motorbike he currently uses was not among those seized and was not purchased from Sanyang. “The case has been reported to our superiors and the director of operations,” Gomez added, distancing himself from the accusations.
Efforts to reach Chief Inspector Matarr Sanyang and the Gambia Police Force’s Public Relations Officer for comment were unsuccessful, leaving many questions unanswered. The incident has reignited concerns about handling cross-border crime in the region, particularly given the Karantaba Police Station’s history of challenges.
For the residents of Demba Kalley and Souma Kunda, the unresolved fate of the four motorbikes and the suspects’ absence have deepened mistrust in local law enforcement. The allegations of theft and police involvement have cast a shadow over efforts to curb cross-border crime, which continues to threaten the safety and security of communities along the Gambia-Senegal border. As investigations continue, locals call for greater transparency and accountability to restore confidence and ensure justice.
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