Africa-Press – Gambia. Omar Badjie, the 27-year-old young man who allegedly died from police brutality while in state custody, has been buried in his native Mandinary village.
Thousands of villagers, family members, friends, politicians, and people from all walks of life paid their last respects to him in a funeral held on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media at the burial, Ebrima John, a youth leader in the village, urged the government to handle the matter with due diligence and bring anyone responsible for the killing to book, warning that the villagers don’t take the issue lightly and will exhaust all legal means to make sure that justice is duly served.
Mr. John said they petitioned the government to suspend and arrest all officers involved and set up an impartial investigative team to investigate the issue. He proposed a meeting between the government and the youth of the village within seven days. He affirmed that nothing would change their stance but fair handling of the case.
“We don’t want violence in this country. We don’t want to make this country ungovernable. But, this case is never going to be compromised, and if the government wants to end this case without serving justice by arresting and prosecuting the officers involved, we are going back to the street to protest,” he stressed.
He outlined that the government has enough resources at its disposal to diligently go ahead with the prosecution. He appeals to the government to treat the case with urgency, and with every resource they have at their disposal, so that peace can reign. “We will only be satisfied if those officers responsible are sent to jail for a lifetime. That’s the penalty for the offence and nothing less.”
Ebrima John said the police uniform is a state resource, while urging police to serve the people with respect, dignity, and understanding. “So, if the police humiliate, manipulate, insult, or kill the people they are mandated to protect, how are they going to live in society after retirement?” he questioned.
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