By Buba Gagigo
Duwa Badjie, a native of Gilanfare village in Foni Bintang Constituency, has been confirmed dead in Ziguinchor, Senegal, following an incident where he was allegedly shot and captured by Senegalese soldiers. The news was relayed to Hon. Almameh Gibba, National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala Constituency, by Duwa’s cousin in Ziguinchor after a month-long search conducted by Gambian authorities.
Expressing disappointment in the efforts made by the Gambian government, Hon. Gibba criticized their inability to locate Duwa after his capture. According to him, Duwa was shot on Gambian soil, captured within the Gambia, and then transported to Senegal. The incident took place near the border with Senegal, where Senegalese soldiers allegedly denied access to Gambian armed forces, preventing them from taking Duwa back to the Gambia. Subsequently, Duwa was taken to an undisclosed location and remained incommunicado for a month.
“We’ve been informed by the cousin (Of Duwa Badjie) in Ziguinchor that Duwa Badjie passed away in Ziguinchor. Upon all the searching that we were doing, including the government for one month. The government of the Gambia was fully aware on the day of his arrest. Since that day, for one week, two weeks, three weeks to one month. We instituted a tour three weeks ago to go and tour the area to ascertain where Duwa was captured.
“He was captured on the Gambian soil, he was shot inside the Gambia, captured inside the Gambia, and taken to Senegal. So we have been just informed that Duwa has passed away and the brother, is currently in the Ziguinchor. We told him (Duwa’s cousin) not to touch the dead body. This is a state-to-state issue. Duwa was shot in broad daylight by the Senegalese forces and dragged into Senegal and left incommunicado for a period of one month,” Hon. Gibba told Kerr Fatou.
Hon. Gibba urged President Adama Barrow and his government to launch an investigation into Duwa Badjie’s death, emphasizing the need to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. He criticized the government for its inability to provide concrete information about Duwa’s location and called for accountability in light of this unfortunate event.
“They cannot even concretely tell us the whereabouts of Duwa. So we see to it that a government that owns its sovereignty, one good month your citizen is shot by the Senegalese forces at the border. The Senegalese soldiers had a military camp at the border near Gilanfare. On the day of the shooting, they denied access to the Gambia armed forces to take Duwa back to The Gambia, and Duwa was taken to an unknown place and kept. So we just heard of his death. It is really a tragedy. And we are calling on Adama Barrow and his government that we want for him to investigate and know the cause of the death of Duwa Badjie,” Hon. Gibba said.
According to Honourable Gibba, on January 1, 2024, he and other officials visited the area with the Minister of Defence, CDS, National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police, and Minister of Interior, showing them the marks at the spot where Dawa Badjie was allegedly dragged from his motorcycle.
“From the first of January till date, this government and the authorities that we went with couldn’t even tell us the whereabouts of Duwa. Whether dead or alive. It was through the family’s investigation that they knew that Duwa is dead today in Ziguinchor Regional Hospital. So you see how unfortunate things are. Meaning the government cannot even ascertain, they don’t even know, they cannot even inform us the citizenry of Foni and the family the whereabouts of Duwa. I can tell you for sure that if Senegalese soldiers are captured in the Gambia with arms and ammunition. The order will come from the top, and they will be released. It is very unfortunate.” he said.
Duwa Badjie, a native of Gilanfare village in Foni Bintang Constituency, was reportedly shot and captured by Senegalese soldiers last month.