Immigration officers in the North Bank Region have arrested five more Gambian youths suspected to be embarking on a journey to Europe through what many call the “Back Way”.
The arrest of the five would-be migrants comes less than two weeks after a total of 40 Gambian youths were arrested by the immigration officers in the North Bank Region, also in a suspected attempt to sail to Europe.
According to the public relations officer of the Gambia Immigration Department, ASP Ba Ensa Jawara, the youths were arrested on Saturday at the Kerr Ali border post in the North Bank Region.
“One of them is from the Lower River Region while the other four come from the North Bank Region, aged between 20 to 27 years,” Jawara told The Point on Wednesday.
“These two regions (LRR and NBR) always have the highest number of people attempting to sail through Europe through illegal routes,” he added, while urging the youths not to risk their lives in embarking on such journeys.
The practice of embarking on perilous, mostly sea, voyages has in recent years been an all too common phenomenon that has taken its toll on life and limb of African youths including Gambians, who are resolved to reach the European mainland by all means.
