Africa-Press – Gambia. In an emotional testimony at the Brikama Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Tumane Badjie, uncle of the late Omar Badjie, recounted the events leading up to his nephew’s controversial death following an encounter with police.
Speaking before Principal Magistrate Anna O. Mendy in the ongoing coroner’s inquest, Tumane Badjie described his conversations with officers at Mandinary Health Centre shortly after Omar was brought in.
He told the court that a senior police officer explained that they had encountered Omar with a joint of cannabis and attempted to seize it, prompting a struggle. “The senior officer said they were on patrol and saw Omar with a joint of cannabis and wanted to take it from him, but Omar resisted, so they had a push and pull,” Tumane Badjie stated.
The witness added that during the struggle, Omar’s mobile phone fell, and as the officer bent to retrieve it, Omar ran away. The senior officer reportedly instructed junior officers to pursue him.
“The senior officer said that when Omar started running, he asked the junior officers to run after him. They ran after him, scaled fences, and entered some grass. After a while, they met Omar sitting in the grass, and they caught him there,” Tumane Badjie told the court.
Tumane Badjie said the officers informed him that when they tried to lift Omar from the grass, he complained he could not walk and was thirsty. A woman identified as Jula reportedly gave Omar water before he was transported to the health centre.
The uncle described confronting the officers over the state of his nephew’s body. “I asked the senior officer, ‘Why was Omar’s body dirty with sand?’ Another officer responded that Omar had fallen, but I pressed the issue,” Tumane Badjie told the court. “The officer standing beside Omar in the health centre later admitted they pushed him to the ground.” He maintained that the extensive dirt on Omar’s body was inconsistent with a simple fall.
He also described seeing youths approaching the health centre during the incident and said he managed to divert the officers’ attention to avoid potential conflict before contacting Omar’s father, who was in Cassamance for treatment.
He stated that when the nurse noticed Omar was unresponsive, weak, and breathing irregularly, the nurse on duty arranged for his transfer. Tumane Badjie, along with two others, carried Omar into the ambulance and drove to Kanifing General Hospital, escorted by Saffie and the nurse.
“Whilst we were going, I put my hand on Omar’s body to help him breathe, but when we reached Tabakoto, white saliva started coming from his mouth,” Tumane Badjie tearfully recounted.
He continued, “When we crossed Tabokoto’s main junction, I realized that he was not breathing, so I bent down my head and started crying.”
Upon arrival at Kanifing General Hospital, a doctor confirmed Omar’s death in the afternoon around Juma prayers. His body was later moved to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul, where Tumane Badjie encountered senior police officers Fadera and Badjie. He asked Officer Fadera about the cause of death, who assured him that it would be investigated. Tumane Badjie confirmed that Omar had no known pre-existing health conditions and that the cause of his death remains unknown to the family.
The witness also stated that he had spoken to a man named Musa, who claimed to have witnessed and recorded the incident, but lost his phone during a police chase. Tumane Badjie said he had already taken Musa to the police station to give a statement. He added that Jula, the woman who gave Omar water, refused to provide a statement after her husband objected.
Magistrate Mendy asked whether Musa could be compelled to attend court, to which Tumane Badjie responded affirmatively. Regarding Jula, he noted her husband’s refusal could prevent her appearance. He also confirmed visiting the scene and taking photographs.
The inquest was adjourned to Monday, December 1, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.
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