US-based Gambian public affairs commentator Nanama Keita has raised a concern regarding the recent calls for justice for former student leader Yunusa, questioning whether the public outcry following the alleged murder of Yunusa Mbye is being driven by a genuine pursuit of justice.
“In a murder involving private individuals, the state’s duty is to investigate the crime, arrest the suspect, prosecute the case, and ensure justice is served. That process is already underway. So what exactly is the objective of a protest demanding justice for Yunusa?.”
Yunusa’s death resulted from injuries he had sustained following an altercation with a Guinean national, Momdou Bah, according to the Gambia Police Force. The suspect was charged and arraigned before the High Court of Banjul on Wednesday, and later remanded pending the next proceeding.
This week, flyers circulated online by Mbye’s colleagues, preparing to hold a protest against his alleged killing.
In a widely circulated opinion piece, Nanama argued that while Mbye’s killing has understandably generated public grief and outrage due to his prominence and respected status as a former student leader, attention should also be extended to other victims of violent crime whose cases receive far less public scrutiny.
He noted that the state is currently doing what is expected of them, adding that Mbye’s death resulted from an alleged interpersonal conflict between private individuals and should not be conflated with state-involved killings or deaths in custody.
Yunusa Mbye’s death has generated widespread condemnation among concerned Gambians, calling for a speedy trial of the suspect.