Commissioner of the Police Anti-Crime Unit Momodou Sowe testified as the Fifth Prosecution Witness (PW5) in the case pertaining to the shooting incident at the Sukuta Jabang traffic lights.
Commissioner Sowe shockingly revealed to the court that the first accused, Ousainou Bojang, had admitted to the murders of Sang J. Gomez and Pateh Jallow, two policemen from the Police Intervention Unit.

Commissioner Sowe narrated what happened on the day in question of the unfortunate tragedy. Officers under his charge were stationed at the Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights when he got a report about a gunshot. Tragically, Gomez and Jallow passed away from their wounds, leaving three cops wounded. The third officer, Ancy Jawo, was in the hospital battling for her life.
“My officers called me about a shooting incident that occurred near Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights, where my guys were positioned, on the day that I was off from work. And that three of them were injured when a shooter opened fire on them. As a consequence, Sang J. Gomez and Pateh Jallow were the two who were unable to recover from their wounds. Commissioner Sowe informed the court that Ancy Jawo was fighting for her life in the hospital while working for the Third Office.

Commissioner Sowe said that he immediately went to the crime site after reporting the occurrence to his superiors. The anti-crime unit chief stated that he arrived at the scene to find a substantial number of security guards and witnesses.
He stressed that empty bullet casings were found and that the crime scene’s integrity was preserved. “I deploy officers to continue on the manhunt to look for the suspect,” Commissioner Sowe said. When I later traveled to the hospital to see how the victims were doing, I was informed that both of the cops had already passed away and that one had been hospitalized for a medical examination. On that specific night, nobody was taken into custody.

“Then the following day, I received a call from the Police Headquarters that someone would call me and tell me vital information about the suspect,” Commissioner Sowe said in continuing his testimony.

Furthermore, Sowe said that he invited Musa Camara to his office after getting in touch with the individual who would subsequently be recognized as Camara. At their meeting, Camara said that they had received a tip from a lady, which led to the suspect’s capture at Jululung.

“I invited that specific individual to my office when we spoke. His name was Musa Camara, and he informed me that after the suspect spoke with the woman, a lady provided them with information indicating that the suspect we were looking for was being apprehended at Jululung. Commissioner Sowe informed the court that the suspect was the one who had shot the cops at the Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights and that he had fled the scene.
Commissioner Sowe narrated how he arrived at the Giboro Border with a convoy of three cars in tow and found Gambian officers who were on duty. He gave them a briefing on the aim of his assignment. Commissioner Sowe and his group proceeded to Giboro, where they encountered Mama Jabbi (PW3), before moving on to Jululung. They moved straight on to the Senegalese Gendarmerie in Jululung, which was their next stop.

“We gave them an explanation of our purpose, which had to do with Ousainou Bojang, the suspect. The Senegalese Gendarmerie then had control of him. They gave Ousainou to us after all the procedures had been completed. We were led by Gendarmerie police to the border, when Ousainou was ultimately turned over to us. Then, via Giboro, we traveled back to the Gambia, according to Commissioner Sowe.

Commissioner Sowe said that he introduced himself as the Commissioner of the Anti-Crime Unit when he saw Ousainou Bojang in his car.
Commissioner Sowe also told the court that he gave Ousainou Bojang assurances about his safety, stressing that the rule of law would be upheld and that nothing undesirable would happen.
The head of the Anti-crime Unit said that he had started asking questions regarding the events in their car, pressing Ousainou Bojang about the murders. At first, Ousainou Bojang gave an explanation of his departure from the Gambia, citing an incident involving a white woman who had posted his obscene images on social media.

“When pressed further on the social media account, Ousainou Bojang became stopped and was unable to provide any other information. At that point, he stopped telling that tale and began to describe how the shooting event came to pass. He told us in his confession that he murdered the police officers and that he had committed the Act.

“He (Ousainou Bojang) stated he fired a shot at the windshield, and it was meant for the Ancy Jawo, when we questioned him more about the car that was stationed near the crime scene and had a damaged windscreen. The head of anti-crime informed the court, “He further explained the routes he took to escape, which was the first junction when driving towards sukuta end from Jabang Area.”

Ousainou Bojang gave these clarifications, according to Commissioner Sowe, when they were traveling from Giboro to their Banjulinding Campus.

Commissioner Sowe said that the investigation team had a briefing once they arrived at their Banjulinding camp. And then a group, himself included, was sent to Brufut.

Commissioner Sowe said that they were led to Ousainou Bojang’s room in Brufut, where they found Converse sneakers and a gray haftan. A black pair of pants in a pail was also found by them when they went to a place where Bojang was employed as part of their inquiry.
Commissioner Sowe said that eyewitness testimonies at the crime site suggesting that the attacker was wearing a haftan were what led to the retrieval of the gray haftan, Converse shoes, and black denim pants.

We also requested Ousainou Bojang, the suspect, to assist us in locating the dress he was wearing when he opened fire on the officers. He then guided us to their recovery. During his questioning, he subsequently had a change of heart and claimed to be wearing desert combat boots rather than Converse sneakers. which the investigators later found retrieved from their facility.

“Ousainou Bojang goes on to explain to us how he managed to get away the day after the event. He said in the morning her sister, who is the second accused (Amie Bojang), facilitated his escape by providing a Mercedes-Benz taxi C Class that took him up to the Border of Darsillami. He enters Senegal through Cassamance to Jululung,” the anti-crime boss told the court.

Commissioner Sowe informed the court that, in addition to the recovered items from Ousainou Bojang’s residence, a pistol was also found. He said that their forensic officers are now in possession of the handgun. Furthermore, Commissioner Sowe stated that the gray haftan, converse shoes, desert combat boots, and black jean trousers recovered from the scene are all in the possession of their forensic officers.

Background of the Case

When Ousainou and Amie Bojang first appeared in front of Principal Magistrate Omar Jabang of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on September 21, 2023, they were charged with crimes pertaining to the shooting incident at Sukuta Jabang Traffic Lights, which on September 12, 2023, claimed the lives of two PIU officers and seriously injured another.
The police had initially levelled four charges against the accused, including two murder charges, an act of terrorism charge, and an accessory after the fact to murder charge. Subsequently, Principal Magistrate Omar Jabang transferred the murder trial to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court of The Gambia.

On October 12, 2023, the case was presented before Hon. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court of The Gambia.

On October 19, 2023, the State brought six charges against Ousainou Bojang, the prime suspect in the deaths of two Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers, and a single charge against his elder sister, Amie Bojang.

On October 24, 2023, both Ousainou Bojang and Amie Bojang entered pleas of not guilty to the charges.