Two years after the tragic killing of two gallant officers of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) and the serious injury of another, the question of who truly committed the crime remains unanswered. The president’s pledge of one million dalasi for credible information was meant to inspire justice, yet the state failed to utilize its intelligence officers across the security apparatus. Instead, reliance was placed on an unrealistic source, leading to the framing of Ousainou Bojang as the alleged perpetrator. After enduring two years of incarceration, both Ousainou and his sister Amie Bojang, charged with conspiracy, were acquitted and discharged by the High Court. This verdict has left the nation grappling with deeper uncertainties and mistrust in the government’s ability to protect its own security forces.
The acquittal raises pressing questions. What steps will the government now take to identify and apprehend the real perpetrators? How will Ousainou Bojang, wrongfully accused and imprisoned, view the police and the justice system henceforth? And what course of action will the bereaved families of the slain officers pursue in their quest for justice and closure? These unanswered questions cast a shadow over the credibility of the state’s security and judicial institutions.
The Gambia Action Party (GAP), under the leadership of Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly, has strongly urged President Adama Barrow to “put his house in order” and tighten his belt to fish out the true culprits. GAP’s statement underscores a harsh reality: a government that cannot protect its own security men cannot be trusted to safeguard its citizens. This failure reflects not only a lapse in intelligence but also a broader crisis of governance.
The issue is compounded by widespread corruption, perpetuated by the president’s appointment of inept and compromised advisers and ministers. The porous state of national security is symptomatic of a deeper malaise, rooted corruption and institutional laziness. In this context, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the National Human Rights Council must rise to the occasion. Their intervention is critical to investigate and dismantle the entrenched corruption that undermines both justice and security in the country.
The acquittal of Ousainou and Amie Bojang is not the end of the matter but rather a stark reminder of the government’s failure to deliver justice. The families of the victims, the security forces, and the nation at large deserve answers. Until the perpetrators are found and accountability is enforced, the wounds of this tragedy will remain open, and the trust in state institutions will continue to erode.