The sudden and controversial death of 27-year-old Omar Badjie has sparked national concern over police brutality in The Gambia. Omar was a young construction worker from Mandinary, Kombo North District of the West Coast Region.
His life was cut-short on Friday 26th September, 2025 during a Police Operation in Mandinary.
According to eyewitnesses’ accounts aired in the media, a confrontation occurred between him and officers believed to be on patrol in the area. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear but the encounter with police ended with Omar being pronounced death.
His death triggered unrest in Mandinary, with residents accusing the police of using excessive force and demanding an independent investigation.
‘Justice Without Compromise’
In a statement issued on 27th September 2025, the Gambia Police Force provided its version of events, stating that police officers in Mandinary were conducting a patrol when they encountered a group of young men including Omar. They reported that while the Omar tried to flee the scene, he collapsed and was pronounced dead at the Kanifing General Hospital. The statement avoided apportioning blame but confirmed that a full investigation had been launched. The police further assured that “justice will be pursued without compromise.”
After series of publications from the Gambia Police Force, the Ministry of Interior was forced to issue a statement on the matter. The statement issued on on 27th September extended condolences to the Badjie family and acknowledged public concerns. “One of the youths later identified as Omar Badjie fell on the ground, picked up and was rushed to the Banjulinding Health Center and subsequently referred to Kanifing General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” according to the Ministry of Interior. “We urge calm and assure the public that the matter will be investigated transparently and in accordance with the law.”
Four Officers Detained
On 28th September, the Police announced that four officers who were “directly involved in the pursuit of the late Omar Badjie” were suspended, arrested and detained pending the institution of an independent Coroner’s Inquest by the State.
The Police initially mentioned the four officers by rank and full names before removing such details from all their social media posts a few minutes later. The officers in question are all constables in rank with one of them a 1st Class Constable.
Coroner’s Inquest
Accountability for Omar’s untimely death took another twist when the family members submitted a request for a Coroner’s Inquest. According to Section 6(1) of the Coroners Act Cap 7:04, Laws of The Gambia, “when a person dies while in police custody, under the supervision of a prison officer, or in prison, the police officer, prison officer, or any individual responsible for the care of the deceased at the time of death must immediately notify the nearest Coroner. The Coroner will then conduct an inquiry into the cause of death.“
A Coroner’s Inquest is a judiciary inquiry conducted by a judicial officer into the circumstances surrounding a death, especially when the death is suspicious, sudden, violent, unnatural or occurs in police or prison custody.
A Foroyaa Newspaper report revealed that Omar’s family submitted a formal request for a coroner’s inquest was submitted on 29th September and a postmortem was approved by Principal Magistrate Anna O. Mendy of Brikama Magistrate’s Court. The postmortem took place the following day on 30th September and Omar was then buried on the 1st of October.
Meanwhile, a postmortem which is also known as an autopsy, is a medical examination of a dead body conducted by a medical practitioner authorized by the government sometimes called a pathologist to determine the cause and manner of death. The outcome of a postmortem report states the likely cause of death while an inquest verdict may recommend further criminal investigation or prosecution. This makes a postmortem a crucial element of a coroner’s inquest.
On 3rd October, the Judiciary revealed that Chief Justice Hassan B Jallow had ordered a coroner’s inquest into the death of Omar to be conducted by the same Magistrate Anna O. Mendy who had already approved the postmortem.
Badjie was laid to rest in Mandinary on 1st October after a large funeral attended by friends and relatives, advocates, community members and well-wishers. The atmosphere was solemn and emotional. Religious leaders used the occasion to call for peace, while others called for justice and transparency. Civil society members also made appearances, urging the government not to allow Badjie’s case to fade into silence.
What Next?
For now, the four detained officers remain in custody, but no formal charges have been filed. The Justice Ministry has not released any timeline for the inquest, and the results of the postmortem have yet to be made public.
However, public scrutiny remains high, and rights groups are closely monitoring the case to ensure accountability.
