Bakary Mankajang, founder of Mankajang Daily, testified on Monday as the tenth defence witness in the ongoing murder trial of Ousainou Bojang and his sister, Amie Bojang, before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court in Banjul.
Ousainou Bojang is accused of murdering two Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers at the Sukuta–Jabang Traffic Lights in 2023, while his sister, Amie Bojang, faces charges of being an accessory after the fact.
Representing the state was Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) A.M. Yusuf, while Senior Counsel Lamin J. Darboe appeared for Ousainou Bojang and Counsel Adama Sillah represented Amie Bojang.
Led in his evidence-in-chief by Counsel Darboe, Mankajang identified himself as a journalist residing in Fajikunda. He was then asked to recount his involvement in the aftermath of the police killings.
Mankajang told the court that on September 15, 2023, he conducted an interview with Mama Jabbie (PW3), who had returned to The Gambia from Cassamance with the accused a day earlier. According to him, the interview took place at the Yarambamba residence of President Adama Barrow’s sister, where Mama Jabbie explained how Ousainou Bojang was directed to her by a man named Alfusainey upon his arrival in Cassamance.
The journalist testified that Mama Jabbie told him she “realized that Ousainou had done something upon seeing him,” and that when she questioned him, Ousainou confessed that he had killed two police officers. Mankajang emphasized that the interview was conducted in the presence of others and recorded at Yarambamba.
He further told the court that, following public interest and suggestions from his followers, he and fellow journalist Lamin Fatty of Kerr Fatou traveled to Jululung, Cassamance, to interview Alfusainey.
According to Mankajang, Alfusainey initially declined to speak, saying he had been “instructed not to talk to anyone” before speaking with the police. However, after obtaining clearance from the authorities, he agreed to grant an interview.
Mankajang testified that off-camera, Alfusainey claimed Ousainou told him he wanted to consult a marabout because of “a problem with his white lady,” and was then referred to Mama Jabbie. But when the camera was turned on, Alfusainey changed his account, saying Ousainou confessed that he had “killed two people from The Gambia and needed help.”
Under questioning, Mankajang confirmed that he recorded both interviews and that the videos were publicly available online. He explained that he later edited and published the footage himself but noted that portions of it had already circulated on social media since Mama Jabbie had also been recording the conversation.
When DPP Yusuf raised concerns about whether Mankajang still possessed the original, unedited versions of the videos, the journalist assured the court that he had both the edited and unedited copies and could produce them if required.
Following this assurance, Justice Jaiteh granted Counsel Darboe’s application for the witness to submit the unedited versions of both interviews—those with Mama Jabbie and Alfusainey—to be tendered as evidence.
The court adjourned the case to October 13, 2025, for the production of the unedited video evidence and continuation of the defence hearing.