Gambian President Adama Barrow on Tuesday pardoned five police officers involved in the shooting and killing of 3 protestors and injuring ten civilians in 2018 in the town of Faraba Banta.
The presidential pardon came as a result of a request by the village chief, Omar Kujabi, who wrote a letter to the president, accompanied by a sworn affidavit, requesting the withdrawal of criminal charges in the matter ‘‘to promote true reconciliation’’, peace, and stability in the village.
It could recealled that the Faraba shooting incident that took place on 18 June 2018 in the town of Faraba Banta.
Bakary Kujabi and Ismalie Bah were killed instantly. Amadou Nyang-Jawo, a student at The Gambia College, was hospitalised at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul. Masanneh Njie, Salaman Darboe, Jalaman Darboe, Pa Jammeh, Sainey Sonko, Sheriffo Touray, Dawda Daffeh, Buba Sanyang, and Francis Jambang were all injured in the clash and taken to Brikama Major Hospita. Nyang-Jawo died in hospital on 20 June, having previously been in a critical state
During a protest against mining operations, officers of the Gambia Police Force used live ammunition, firing on protesters. Two were killed instantly, with a third dying two days later. A number of other protestors and police officers were injured during the confrontation.
President Barrow accepted the appeal from the community of Faraba for the discontinuance of the prosecution of the officers of the Police Intervention Unit as well as the civilians standing trial for their role(s) in the unfortunate Faraba Banta incident.
Meanwhile, the community stated that they were satisfied and appreciative of the responsible leadership demonstrated and acts of compassion that, President Barrow and his government had undertaken after the incident, such as the visit by the President to the community in the immediate aftermath of the incident, the setting up of a commission of inquiry and appointment of a coroner as well as his decision to act on the recommendations of the investigative commission, among other gestures.
The president has accordingly accepted to respect and grant the wishes of the community, particularly families of the victims, to immediately withdraw all the charges against the PIU officers and civilian perpetrators concerned.
By the same token, His Excellency, the President has also accepted to lift the suspension meted out on the Director of Geology Department and the Executive Director of National Environment Agency.