Ousainu Bojang, first defendant
An eyewitness to the September 13, 2023, police shooting at the Sukuta-Jabang traffic light has given his long-awaited testimony before the High Court in Banjul. Omar S. Jallow, a member of the Gambia Armed Forces, appeared as a witness following a successful application by defense counsel Lamin J. Darboe.
Under questioning, Jallow recounted that he and two colleagues, Ismaila and Bakary Jarju, had received a lift from Palma Rima to the Sukuta-Jabang area. While waiting for transport home, they bought “Afra” from a vendor. Jallow stated that shortly after, they heard gunshots. He described seeing two officers shot at close range and a female PIU officer attempting to respond before also being gunned down.
Jallow testified that he pursued the shooter briefly before turning back, citing a lack of arms and professionalism. He later helped secure the scene and recover shell casings. Under cross-examination, he confirmed he was off-duty at the time and had no prior training in providing courtroom testimony.
The defense introduced Jallow’s call log from Africell into evidence (Exhibit D36), confirming his communications on the day of the incident. He also identified a written statement he made at the Banjulinding Police Station, which was admitted as Exhibit DD5.
When asked by Counsel Adama Sillah to describe the shooter, Jallow said the suspect wore a haftan but could not identify his face. Despite not seeing other accomplices, Jallow maintained that the shooter was professional and experienced, firing multiple shots with precision.
He expressed disappointment that, as a key eyewitness, he had not been initially called by police to testify. He said he was only later contacted by the Ministry of Justice.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, A.M. Yusuf, challenged several aspects of Jallow’s testimony, including his recollection of events, identification of weapon type, and the shooter’s expertise. Jallow maintained that the firearm used was not an AK-47 and that the suspect demonstrated advanced shooting skills.
Justice Jaiteh questioned why the witness did not retrieve the fallen officer’s weapon, to which Jallow responded he experienced “battle shock” during the ordeal.
Following his testimony, Jallow was discharged. Counsel Lamin J. Darboe informed the court that his next witness is currently abroad and requested to proceed with testimony via video link, which the court granted.
The case was adjourned to October 6, 2025.
We reproduced below the courtroom questions and answers verbatim.
“What’s your name?” Counsel Lamin J. Darboe asked.
“My name is Omar S. Jallow,” Omar S. Jallow stated.
“Where do you work?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“I work with the Gambia army force,” Jallow answered
“Where were you on 13th September 2023?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“I was in the Gambia Army Force, and I used to go to training at Palma Rima,” Jallow responded.
“Do you remember the time you left Palma Rima?” Counsel Lamin J. Darboe inquired.
“No, I can’t,” Jallow answered
“Do you remember when you left Palma Rima? Where did you go?” Counsel Lamin J. Darboe asked.
“We are being taken by a lift to Sukuta-Jabang tariff light along with Ismaila, Bakary Jarju, and me (Omar S. Jallow),” Jallow explained.
“What were you doing at the Sukuta-Jabang traffic light?” Counsel Lamin J. Darboe asked.
“We were not doing anything; we were just looking for another car to go home,” Jallow explained.
“Do you remember what you did at the Sukuta-Jabang traffic light?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“Yes, I remember we bought Afra,” Jallow stated.
“Do you recall who bought the Afra?” Counsel Darboe inquired
“Myself,” Jallow responded
“Among the three of you, who was the senior?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“Ismaila was the senior,” Jallow answered.
“Would you be surprised if Ismaila came here and said you’re the senior?” Counsel Darboe asked
“That’ll be his statement, but he’s my senior,” Jallow replied
“Do you recall something happening at the Sukuta-Jabang traffic light?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“Yes,” Jallow replied
“Can you tell the court?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“Yes,” Jallow answered.
“Tell the court.” Counsel inquired.
“That day, from Senegambia, we had a lift to Sukuta-Jabang tariff light, and when we dropped, we were hungry, and Ismaila gave me 200, and I added 100, and I was asked to go and buy Afra while they crossed to the other end around a shop.
“So, when I bought the Afra, while coming, I called either Ismaila or Bakary asking them where they were, and they told me they were at the veranda of the shop, and I headed in their direction. While I was going to them, I saw three PIU officers standing, and while we started eating the Afra we heard a gunshot, and we heard another. Then I knew that wasn’t normal, and we rushed in that direction, and I saw one officer down, and the second was shot while the PIU lady was sitting, and she attempted to push in his colleagues’ direction; she was shot too.
“We rushed towards the shooter and he ran towards the Sukuta end and bent to the first junction and I followed him for some time and returned as I’m not armed and it’s not professional to chase someone armed and I returned to the crime scene while I didn’t see my colleagues and later they came and we tried to secure the place and we searched and found empty bullet casing,” Jallow explained.
“Who found the bullet casing?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“Bakary Jarju,” Jallow replied
“Did you have a telephone with you on that day?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“Yes”, Jallow replied.
“Did you make a call on that day?” Counsel Darboe asked
“Yes,” Jallow replied
“Which of the networks?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“I have two lines but I couldn’t recall which number I made the call with,” Jallow replied.
“Take a look at this telephone number whether that’s your number.” Counsel sorted.
Looking at the document, he confirmed the number as his. Counsel Lamin J. Darboe applied for the call log of the number to be produced by Africell, and the request was granted.
Abubacarr Jatta, a data analyst from Africell, subsequently produced the call log and certificate. The call log was given to the witness to confirm, and Mr. Jallow confirmed it was his number on the document.
“Do you have a telephone on that day?” Counsel Darboe asked
“Yes, my telephone is always with me,” Jallow replied.
“Do you know Kerr Kala village and is that your village?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“No, that’s not my village but I used to pass by going to my village,” Jallow explained.
“Do you know Sara kunda?” Counsel Darboe asked
“No,” Jallow replied.
The Africell data analyst was then asked whether he knew where Sara kunda is located. He responded that Sara kunda is located on Sukuta Latrikunda highway around the bridge.
Counsel Lamin J. Darboe applied for the print call log and the certificate to be tendered into evidence. While there was no objection from the second defence, the Director of Public Prosecution, A.M. Yusuf, argued that there had been no prior application for the production of the print call log.
Counsel Lamin J. Darboe countered that Africell had no interest in the case and were asked to produce the document to assist the court in obtaining better information about the witness’s call record. Counsel Adama Sillah associated himself with Counsel Lamin J. Darboe’s submission.
Justice Jaiteh granted Counsel Lamin J. Darboe’s application and admitted the call log printout, marking it as Exhibit D36.
“Can you have a look at the entries of 12th September 2023 at 20:15?” Counsel Darboe requested.
“Yes,” Jallow replied.
“Is it correct that you called Bakary Jarju at 3 minutes after 20:00?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“I couldn’t remember,” Jallow replied.
“And Bakary Jarju called you at 20:15?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“I can’t remember,” Jallow answered
“I’m putting it to you, you have never been to Palma Rima.” Counsel Darboe asserted.
“I left Bakau for Palma Rima,” Jallow responded.
“After the incident, did you recall your travel?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“Yes, I travelled to Turkey., Jallow replied.
“Did you recall the date you returned to The Gambia?” Counsel Darboe inquired.
“I can’t remember unless I look at my visa,” Jallow answered.
“Would you recall when I told you the date?” Counsel Darboe asked
“If it’s in line with the date,” Jallow replied
“You left The Gambia on 1st October.” Counsel Darboe explained
“I don’t remember,” Jallow replied
“You didn’t go to the Sukuta-Jabang tariffic light until Bakary Jarju called you.” Counsel Darboe asserted.
The DPP objected to the question, prompting Counsel Lamin J. Darboe to rephrase it.
“You stated that the attacker threw a gun in the air?” Counsel Darboe said.
“Yes, he shot when he bent and later shot again five times,” Jallow replied
“So, he shot five shots?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“Yes,” Jallow replied.
“Were you in front of the PIU or at the back of the PIU?” Counsel Darboe asked.
“I was not in front or back but was around their side,” Jallow replied.
“Can you remember there’s a building material shop around?” Counsel Darboe asked
“I don’t remember a building material shop,” Jallow replied.
Counsel Adama Sillah then commenced his cross-examination of the witness.
“Can you briefly explain your military background?” Counsel Sillah requested.
“I joined the army in 2011 and after training, I was posted at… then to army training school, and there was a selection for special training, and I was in the training until the incident,” Jallow explained.
“Do you have experience with firearms?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“Yes,” Jallow replied
“Tell us what you know about firearms.” Counsel Sillah requested.
“I’m a firearm instructor,” Jallow replied.
“Have you ever been in a stressful situation like the incident?” Counsel Sillah inquired.
“I have never been in a critical situation,” Jallow replied
“How does your training and experience prepare you for such situations before the court?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“The knowledge I acquired in the army is what I demonstrate,” Jallow replied
“Do you have training on witness testimony?” Counsel Sillah asked
“No,” Jallow answered
“On the day of the incident, were you on duty or off duty?” Counsel Sillah asked
“I was off duty,” Jallow answered
“Do you have a procedure in the army if such an issue like this occurred how do you communicate it?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“It is two-way. If I happen to be in the army, I am the PRO who communicates, but if I witness an incident, I can communicate.” Jallow explained.
“Did you take that communication channel?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“I can explain in the military that when an issue happens, the senior takes responsibility to communicate it, and when the issue happens, we report it to the military police of the army, and we explain the incident, and he takes us to the Banjul police station, and we give a statement,” Jallow explained.
Counsel Sillah applied for the statement to be produced, and the court ordered the DPP to produce it, which he did.
“How many statements did you make at the Banjulding police station?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“One,” Jallow replied
Counsel Adama Sillah asked the witness to examine the statement and confirm whether it was the statement he made at the Banjulding police station. After a careful review, he confirmed that it was the statement he wrote.
Counsel Adama Sillah applied for the statement to be tendered into evidence. With no objection from either the state or defence counsel, Justice Jaiteh admitted and marked the statement as Exhibit DD5.
“Can you describe what you showed on that very day?” Counsel requested
“On that day, at Sukuta-Jabang tariff light after we bought the afra and we heard a shot, but I thought as what we described in the army as wrongful discharged, but when I turned, I saw an officer on the ground and when the second officer attempted to react, he shot the second person and the female officer and started running away,” Jallow explained.
“Did you see the shooter?” Counsel Sillah asked
“Yes, I saw the shooter,” Jallow replied
“Did you see the face or recognise him?” Counsel Sillah
“No,” Jallow replied
“So, since you saw the shooter, how will you describe him?” Counsel Sillah asked
“I didn’t see his face but he wore a haftan,” Jallow answered.
“Did you see other people because according to the information, they said there were six other people involved?” Counsel Sillah inquired
“I didn’t see any other person,” Jallow answered
“Did you see a female who was part of the shooter?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“No,” Jallow responded
“Do you take yourself seriously by the police taking your statement without calling you to testify?” Counsel Sillah asked
“I feel bad about the incident because they were my comrades and if the police didn’t call me to testify, but the court has called me,” Jallow narrated.
“So, as an eyewitness, you saw your comrades killed, and the police didn’t call you to testify. Did you think the police took you seriously?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“If they had called me to testify then I would see that they took me seriously.” Jallow narrated.
“Did you investigate why you weren’t called?” Counsel Sillah inquired.
“I follow the media to follow the case and have asked my colleagues,” Jallow replied
“Did you even have the desire to testify?” Counsel Sillah asked.
“Yes, I was once called to the Ministry of Justice and they showed me my statement and I confirmed the statement and I was told I would be testifying before the court but that day Bakary Jarju was testifying and I was told that I would be called to testify but that didn’t happen,” Jallow narrated.
“Did you notice a CCTV camera around that area?” Counsel sorted
“I didn’t look to find out.” Jallow replied.
“I heard you saying you realised about the shooting when you heard the gunshot.” Counsel Sillah asked
“Yes.” Jallow replied
“Did you collect the empty bullet casing?” Counsel Sillah inquired
“No, it is Bakary Jarju and Ismaila.” Jallow replied
“As an army expert, did you know the type of gun the bullet came from? Is it a pistol or an AK-47?” Counsel inquired
“It isn’t an AK-47.” Jallow explained
“As an eyewitness, did you see the alleged gun?” Counsel Sillah asked
“No.” Jallow answered
“As an expert and from your experience, can you tell if the shooter was a mature shooter?” Counsel Sillah inquired
“Yes.” Jallow replied
“Meaning he’s an expert and experienced person?” Counsel Sillah asked. Counsel Sillah asked
“Yes, a professional person and he’s accurate,” Jallow answered.
Cross-examination by the Director of Public Prosecutions, A.M. Yusuf, began.
“The day the military police escorted you to the Anti-Crime Unit, was it the day of the police shooting?” DPP asked.
“No, It wasn’t the same day but maybe two days after or more,” Jallow replied.
“You said the shooter wore a haftan, did you know the colour?” DPP asked
“I can’t tell because the lights were on,” Jallow replied.
“Can you tell the range of the shooter and the officers’ shots?” DPP inquired.
“The first one he shot, I didn’t see that, but the second officer, the range was close, while the distance with the female officer was short,” Jallow explained.
“So, the distance between him and the second officer was close?” DPP asked.
“Yes, they were closed, and they were even involved in the exchange as the officer struggled to disarm him,” Jallow explained.
“So, he’s not an expert as they were close to each other?” DPP asked
“He’s an expert,” Jallow answered
“The AK-47 and pistol, which is more complex for shooting?” DPP inquired.
“The pistol is more complex as some officers can’t use a pistol,” Jallow explained.
“Have you heard about accidental discharge?” DPP inquired
“Yes,” Jallow answered.
“And do you know that accidental discharge happens by civilians?” DPP asked.
“I only know of negligent discharge in the army and not any else,” Jallow replied.
Justice Jaiteh then asked why he didn’t pick up the AK-47 since the officer with the gun was shot, rather than chasing the attacker empty-handed. The witness stated he experienced “battle shock” and that “military ideas ran away.”
The witness was then discharged as there were no further questions from the DPP.
Counsel Lamin J. Darboe informed the court that his next witness is outside the country’s jurisdiction and applied for her to be heard via video call. The court granted the application.
The case has been adjourned to October 6th, 2025.