By Landing Ceesay
Momodou Sowe, Commissioner of the Police Anti-Crime Unit, took the stand as the Fifth Prosecution Witness (PW5) in the trial related to the Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights shooting incident.
In a startling revelation, Commissioner Sowe informed the court that Ousainou Bojang, the first accused, confessed to the killing of two Police Intervention Unit officers, Sang J. Gomez and Pateh Jallow.
Commissioner Sowe recounted the events of the tragic incident that occurred on the day in question. He received a call about a shooting at Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights, where officers under his command were deployed. Three officers were injured, and sadly, Gomez and Jallow succumbed to their injuries. Ancy Jawo, the third officer, was fighting for her life in the hospital.
“On that particular day when I closed from duties, I received a call from my officers regarding a shooting incident that happened at Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights, where my men were deployed. And that a gunman attacked them and shot at them, injuring 3 of them. As a result, two of them could not survive their injuries, and they were Sang J. Gomez and Pateh Jallow. Whilst the 3rd Office, Ancy Jawo was battling with her life at the hospital,” Commissioner Sowe told the court.
Commissioner Sowe recounted that upon informing his superiors about the incident, he promptly proceeded to the crime scene. The head of the anti-crime unit testified that upon reaching the location, he encountered a significant presence of security personnel and eyewitnesses.
He emphasized that the integrity of the crime scene was maintained, and the discovery of empty bullet cases was noted. Commissioner Sowe expressed, “I deploy officers to continue on the manhunt to look for the suspect. Later, I drove to the hospital to check on the victims, and it was confirmed at the hospital that both officers were dead already and one was admitted for medical examination. That particular night, no one was arrested.”
Continuing his testimony, Commissioner Sowe revealed, “Then the following day, I received a call from the Police Headquarters that someone would call me and tell me vital information about the suspect.”
Moreover, Sowe mentioned that when he reached out to the person, later identified as Musa Camara, he invited Camara to his office. During their meeting, Camara disclosed that a woman had provided them with a tip, ultimately resulting in the apprehension of the suspect at Jululung.
“When I communicated with that particular person, I invited him to my office. His name was Musa Camara, and he told me that there was a lady who gave them information that the suspect that we were searching for was being arrested at Jululung after the suspect had a conversation with the lady. That he (suspect) was the one who shot those officers at Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights, and he was on the run to flew the scene,” Commissioner Sowe told the court.
Commissioner Sowe recounted that he led a convoy of three vehicles to the Giboro Border, where he encountered Gambian Officers on duty. He briefed them about the purpose of his mission. Continuing their journey, Commissioner Sowe and his team met with Mama Jabbi (PW3) at Giboro before advancing to Jululung. Their next destination was the Senegalese Gendarmerie at Jululung, where they proceeded without delay.
“We explained to them our mission, which was in connection with the suspect, Ousainou Bojang. Then he was in the custody of the Senegalese Gendarmerie. After all the protocols were followed, they handed over Ousainou to us. The Gendarmerie officers escorted us up to the border, and finally, Ousainou was handed over to us. Then we drove back to the Gambia through Giboro,” Commissioner Sowe said.
Commissioner Sowe stated that upon encountering Ousainou Bojang in his vehicle, he identified himself as the Commissioner of the Anti-Crime Unit.
In addition, Commissioner Sowe informed the court that he assured Ousainou Bojang of his safety, emphasizing that adherence to the rule of law would be maintained and nothing untoward would occur.
The Anti-crime Unit leader disclosed that during their vehicle conversation, he initiated inquiries into the incident, probing Ousainou Bojang about the killings. Initially, Ousainou Bojang explained that he had left the Gambia due to a situation involving a white lady who had shared his explicit photos on social media.
“When further questioned about the social media handle, he (Ousainou Bojang) was stuck, and he could not further explain. That was the time he dropped that story, and he started explaining how the shooting incident happened. He confessed to us that he did the Act, and he said he killed the Police Officers.
“When we further questioned him about the vehicle that was stationed within the vicinity of the crime scene, whose windscreen was broken, He (Ousainou Bojang) said he fired a shot at the windscreen, and it was intended for the Ancy Jawo. He further explained the routes he took to escape, which was the first junction when driving towards sukuta end from Jabang Area,” the anti-crime boss told the court.
Commissioner Sowe stated that Ousainou Bojang provided these explanations while they were en route from Giboro to their Banjulinding Campus.
Upon reaching their Banjulinding camp, Commissioner Sowe mentioned that a briefing took place with the investigative team. Subsequently, a team, including himself, was dispatched to Brufut.
In Brufut, Commissioner Sowe recounted that Ousainou Bojang guided them to his room, where they recovered a gray haftan and Converse shoes. Additionally, during their investigation, they visited a location where Bojang worked, discovering a black pair of jeans in a bucket.
Commissioner Sowe clarified that the recovery of the gray haftan, Converse shoes, and black jean trousers was prompted by eyewitness accounts at the crime scene indicating that the assailant was clad in a haftan.
“The suspect (Ousainou Bojang) was also asked to help us recover the dress he was wearing during the shooting at the Officers. Then he led us to recover them. Then in his interrogation, he changed his mind and said that he was not using Converse shoes, but desert combat boots. Which was subsequently recovered by the investigators from their compound.
“He (Ousainou Bojang) further tells us how he escaped after the incident the following day. He said in the morning her sister, who is the second accused (Amie Bojang), facilitated his escape by providing a Mercedes-Benz taxi C Class that took him up to the Border of Darsillami. He enters Senegal through Cassamance to Jululung,” the anti-crime boss told the court.
Commissioner Sowe informed the court that, in addition to the recovered items from Ousainou Bojang’s residence, a pistol was also found. He mentioned that the pistol is currently in the custody of their forensic officers. Furthermore, Commissioner Sowe stated that the gray haftan, converse shoes, desert combat boots, and black jean trousers recovered from the scene are all in the possession of their forensic officers.
Background of the Case
On September 21, 2023, Ousainou and Amie Bojang made their initial appearance before Principal Magistrate Omar Jabang of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, facing charges related to the shooting incident at Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights, which resulted in the tragic deaths of two PIU officers and severe injury to another on September 12, 2023.
The police had initially levelled four charges against the accused, including two murder charges, an act of terrorism charge, and an accessory after the fact to murder charge. Subsequently, Principal Magistrate Omar Jabang transferred the murder trial to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court of The Gambia.
On October 12, 2023, the case was presented before Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court of The Gambia.
On October 19, 2023, the State brought six charges against Ousainou Bojang, the prime suspect in the deaths of two Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers, and a single charge against his elder sister, Amie Bojang.
On October 24, 2023, both Ousainou Bojang and Amie Bojang entered pleas of not guilty to the charges.