Shooting Incident Passengers Refute Army’s Car Chase Claims

(from left to right) The above image shows the back of the vehicle where the bullet pierced the car, the drinks cooler and the middle back seat © Askanwi

By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT

Two passengers in the vehicle shot by a Security Officer revealed to Askanwi that they were never involved in a car chase with the authorities, nor were they arrested and under the influence of alcohol, as stated by a Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) statement published on 27th August 2024.

The shooting incident occurred on Monday, 26th August 2024, at 2:30 am in the morning after a Toyota Avensis, number plate KM 8065 E approached a Security Checkpoint near Touray’s restaurant at Bijilo, close to the Kerr Serign Junction. The statement issued by the GAF highlights that one “round ricocheted off and apparently hit one of the occupants of the vehicle, Stanislav Gomez who sustained minor injuries to the thigh”.

Speaking to two of the passengers of the vehicle and observing an X-ray image, it’s clear that the bullet is still lodged in Mr Gomez’s thigh. However, Doctors advised to leave it inside as removing it could cause complications.

The GAF statement noted that they “provided first aid to the injured occupant before transporting him to the Ndemban Clinic in Bakau for further medical attention”. This claim was refuted by two of the passengers who were adamant that since Mr Gomez was shot, the Security have not shown any concern about his medical condition. In fact, they revealed that the Security did not pay for any medical treatment and X-ray scans after he was shot by a Soldier.

Was there a High-Speed Chase?

The GAF statement reveals that the driver, “Issak Sambou, approached the Vehicular Check Point (VCP) at high speed and knocked down two cones that were placed a few meters before the VCP. The driver continued to speed towards the soldiers manning the VCP and refused to stop when signaled and nearly ran over one of the soldiers who dived away to avoid a fatal collision”.

Both passengers refuted the above claims, highlighting that there were no cones with reflectors and no warning shot was fired into the air to alert them to stop. Instead, they only observed orange cones without reflectors when they had already approached the checkpoint.

In addition to the above, the GAF statement highlights that “the soldiers pursued the vehicle and arrested the driver after a short chase from the VCP”. On the contrary, images seen by Askanwi show that the vehicle was parked less than 20 meters from an orange cone without reflectors. This raises questions about the veracity of a car chase.

According to the two passengers, their vehicle stopped before the Security Officer discharged his weapon, and they did not hit any cones before coming to a stop.

After the single shot was fired, the passengers revealed that the Soldier was insulting and cocked his gun in a threatening manner. This was when they requested for the Commander, who identified himself as Corporal Lamin Keita. They questioned if Commander Keita gave the order to fire and if he knew why his Soldier fired at their vehicle. Commander Keita responded by saying he never gave the order to fire, nor did he know why his Soldier discharged his weapon.

It was not immediately noticed that Stanislas Gomez was shot, but soon after they disembarked the vehicle and noticed he was shot in the thigh, they quickly rushed him to Ndemban Clinic.

Did the Soldier Shoot to disable the Vehicle?

The GAF statement indicates that a Soldier fired a single shot “aimed at the vehicle’s tyres. The aim was to disable and stop the vehicle as well as protect the lives of everyone around the Vehicular Check Point”. However, contrary to the GAF’s claims, images seen by Askanwi show that the bullet pierced the back of the vehicle, penetrated a drinks cooler, the middle back car seat, and finally lodged into Mr Gomez’s thigh. This highlights that the bullet did not hit the vehicle’s tyre and instead hit the passenger, who currently has a bullet lodged in his thigh.

This contradicts the GAF statement that Mr Gomez sustained a minor injury to his thigh. Mr Gomez’s injury still requires specialist treatment to ensure no complications after the bullet is removed. When asked about the identity of the Soldier who discharged his weapon, the two witnesses revealed that his name was not known and that the Soldier was isolated soon after they rushed to Ndemban Clinic for treatment.

Where the Occupants Under the Influence?

Another allegation by the GAF is that “preliminary investigations indicate that the driver and the occupants of the vehicle KM 8065 E were all under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident”. However, the two passengers completely refute these allegations of being under the influence and narrate a story they say proves their point.

After Mr Gomez was rushed to Ndemban Clinic for treatment, the rest of the passengers spent the night in Banjul at the Military Police stationed at State House. During their stay, the military police questioned them about being under the influence. They revealed that the Military Police asked if the passengers were under the influence and if they were willing to undergo a test, which they gladly accepted. However, according to the passengers, the test was never carried out.

Where the Occupants Arrested?

According to the GAF statement and GAF Spokesperson, Col. Lamin Sanyang, in an interview with QTV on the This Morning Show, he revealed that the occupants of the vehicle were arrested and handed over to the Police. However, the two passengers also refute these claims and are adamant that they were not arrested and charged and were never handed over to the Police.

After the GAF statement was released, this publication details the story from the passenger’s perspective. Due to the sensitivity of the case and acting on legal advice, the identity of the vehicle occupants has been kept anonymous.

However, it is worth noting that this is not the first time such an incident has happened. On 7 March 2015, Ya Binta Jarju was shot dead by a security detail on patrol duties around Manjai.

As the Gambia navigates the critical phase of Security Sector Reform (SSR), prompted by the findings of the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) and the "Never Again" campaign, this incident raises pressing questions about the progress of these reforms. The TRRC's revelations of past abuses underscored the urgent need for a transformed, accountable, citizen-centric security apparatus. Yet, incidents like this suggest that the journey toward meaningful reform is far from over.

Vehicle Checkpoints (VCPs) play an essential role in maintaining public safety and security. However, these checkpoints must be visible, well-marked with reflective cones, and operated in a manner that prioritises the safety of both security personnel and civilians. Visibility and adherence to established checkpoint protocols are crucial in preventing misunderstandings and ensuring that security operations do not lead to unnecessary harm.

In light of this, the citizenry must also be vigilant, law-abiding, and respectful of security protocols. Cooperation between the public and security forces is vital to fostering a secure environment where everyone can feel safe.

ASKANWI is committed to closely following this story and will continue providing updates as more details emerge. The public deserves transparency, and we will ensure that this case is observed until its conclusion.