Fugitive in Gunjur-Berrending Land Dispute Murder Arraigned After Five Years on the Run
Buba Drammeh, accused in the 2020 fatal shooting of Buba Jammeh
A fugitive murder suspect who had eluded authorities for nearly five years following a deadly land dispute was brought before the High Court in Banjul on Wednesday, marking the latest chapter in a case that has gripped the coastal communities of Gunjur and Berending.
Buba Drammeh, accused in the 2020 fatal shooting of Buba Jammeh during a protracted land conflict between the two neighboring settlements, appeared before Justice Omar Cham for the first time since his escape from Mile 2 Central Prison.
The Gambia Police Force had announced Drammeh’s arrest on April 9, 2025, following a cross-border operation conducted in collaboration with Senegalese security forces. The operation ended a years-long manhunt after Drammeh reportedly fled the country shortly after his initial detention in connection with the incident.
In court, Drammeh stood unrepresented as State Counsel M. Mballow and F. Touray appeared for the prosecution. When asked whether he had secured legal counsel, Drammeh told the court he had been held in a solitary, maximum-security cell since his arrest, with no means to contact anyone for legal assistance.
Prison officials confirmed that Drammeh had been kept in isolation due to his prior escape from lawful custody. They further disclosed that “Justice Defenders,” a group previously facilitating prisoner communications, were no longer operating in the facility. Inmates, they said, now rely on prison officers using their own resources to make calls on their behalf.
Justice Cham expressed concern over the defendant’s inability to access legal representation and ordered prison authorities to facilitate communication between Drammeh and his family or an attorney. Should the accused remain unrepresented, the court will appoint the National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA) to provide legal counsel.
The case was adjourned to June 19 for further proceedings, including the formal taking of Drammeh’s plea.
The Gunjur-Berending land dispute, long marked by tension and sporadic violence, gained national attention following the shooting death of Buba Jammeh in 2020. The case is widely viewed as a test of the justice system’s ability to resolve land conflict-related violence and restore accountability in the wake of prolonged delays.