As many young West African youths continue to make desperate attempts to reach the European citadel, Gambians are under shock after the news broke out last Friday that nearly 70 migrants have reportedly vanished in the Atlantic Ocean.

Abdoulah D. Jaiteh, a native of Kartong village, confided to Freedomnewspaper that on October 14, 2023, there was a boat that theft the shores of Kartong for Spain. He then added they got the information that it capsized on October 17, leaving to die a good number of the passengers, including 27 that originated from the community of Kartong.

Over these past years, the tiny West African nation has been making headlines as demands for a better future is going crescendo. But when they fail to achieve their dreams in the country, they subsequently opt to get into irregular migration. Some of them are even ready to die in sinking boats.

“One of my close friends is part of the victims,” he said while struggling to contain his emotions.

When asked how did they manage to get the information, he revealed this was confirmed by people who paid for the trip but failed to turn up on the D Day.

This was confirmed by members of the village development committee (VDC) that convened a crisis meeting on Saturday.

They invited us to attend the meeting but made it clear that we should not take pictures or record their interaction with us.

VDC members deplored the fact that they were completely left in the dark. They said they were not even aware that preparations were in high gear with regards to the decision taken by some of the youths to embrace the dangerous journey they were on the verge of embarking on.

According to Kartong VDC, it is also confirmed that two boats left on October 19 but they are yet to ascertain their arrival at destination.

         Law Of Silence In Jambur?

Similar sentiments were expressed by the Jambajelly VDC Chairman who told Freedomnewspaper that 40 migrants from Jambur lost their lives in the boat shipwreck, including Abdoulie Marong who is a native of his village.

Meanwhile in Jambur where 40 migrants are believed to have perished at sea, people remained tight-lipped over the boat incident that claimed the lives of many young men.

A situation that prompted us to insist upon they failed to give us information about a case that is trending on social media platforms.

As if they were asked to observe an Omerta, the interlocutors of Freedomnewspaper in Jambur were not willing to divulge anything related to the tragedy.

The Alkalo (village Chief) has this to say when asked about the 40 people that are reported dead in sea: “We can’t say anything. Some are saying it is not true while others are bringing up facts to corroborate the veracity of the information.”

Haruna Bojang said he will not rush to share information about the case, noting that he doesn’t want to contradict himself in a near future.

Weighing in on the list of forty people that went missing since October 14, he told this news outlet that best posture is to wait until the dust settle.

BY ABDOULIE JOHN