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Banjul El Hella armed robbery: Police detail recovery of robbers’ vehicle

Oct 9, 2025, 11:51 AM | Article By: Momodou Jawo

Lamin Saidykhan, deputy superintendent of Police Force (GPF), attached at the Serious Crime Unit (SCU) has testified before Justice Omar Cham of the Banjul High Court, detailing how the vehicle used in the armed robbery at El Hella shop in Banjul was recovered from a mechanic.

Saidykhan, who appeared as Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1) in the ongoing criminal trial involving Abdoulie Jallow and Losseni Diabate, told the court that he has served the GPF for nine years. When asked by State Counsel N.F. Njie about his role at the SCU, he stated that he was the Station Officer at the time the case was reported.

Recalling the events of 8 February, Saidykhan confirmed receiving a robbery complaint that day. “Yes, I remember receiving the case. It was brought to our attention by a complainant named Muhammed Ibrahim Hydara, a businessman by profession,” he said.

Asked to elaborate on the report, the detective explained: “The complainant arrived at our office and stated that he had been robbed by two unknown individuals at his shop in Banjul. He sought immediate police intervention.”

State Counsel Njie then asked what actions were taken following the report. Saidykhan responded: “When a case involving a capital offence is reported, we act swiftly. I immediately led a team of investigators to the scene. We rushed to the El Hella shop in Banjul, but unfortunately, the suspects were no longer there. However, we found the shop had been ransacked.”

He continued: “We reviewed the CCTV footage to determine how Hydara was robbed and how the perpetrators escaped with a significant amount of money in both dalasis and CFA.”

When asked if anything was discovered during the investigation, Saidykhan said: “By carefully analysing the CCTV footage, we identified key elements that could help trace the suspects, including the vehicle used in the robbery, the clothing and caps worn by the robbers, and the weapon they carried.”

This information, he said, was shared across the security sector. It became a sleepless day for the country’s security forces, especially the police. “Investigators intensified their efforts. Fortunately, the BMW used in the robbery was spotted and found in the possession of a mechanic named Abdoulie Jallow,” he revealed.

Jallow was asked to produce documentation for the vehicle, but he claimed he was merely a mechanic hired to service the car and repaint it. “He said he had no documents for the vehicle,” Saidykhan testified.

The police then inquired about the vehicle’s ownership. “Jallow told us the car had been given to him by one Losseni Diabate, who happens to be one of the suspects. He said he didn’t know where Diabate lived, as it was their first meeting. As a mechanic, he claimed he was simply doing his job,” Saidykhan concluded.

The trial continues today with continuation of the testimony of Saidykhan.

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