According to a police flash report, the deceased Omar Badjie initially “fell during hot pursuit and was taken to the hospital and confirmed dead.” However, some youths interviewed by online media alleged that Badjie died as a result of being beaten by police officers during his arrest.
The Commission, in a press statement issued on Saturday, expressed deep concern over the conflicting accounts of the incident and extended its condolences to Badjie’s family, urging that their right to timely and accurate information about the circumstances of his death be respected.
Citing Section 18 of the 1997 Constitution, which guarantees the sanctity of life, the NHRC called for the creation of a taskforce to thoroughly investigate the case, with independent oversight to ensure transparency and accountability. The Commission also stressed that witnesses willing to assist in the investigation must be protected from intimidation or harassment.
“The Gambia, as a State Party to international human rights treaties, is bound by the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials,” the statement read. “Force must only be used when strictly necessary, proportionate, and subject to accountability.” It further noted that the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act 2023 prohibits all forms of torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
The NHRC expressed alarm over what it described as recurring incidents involving arbitrary police conduct during public assemblies, particularly the indiscriminate use of teargas by the Police Intervention Unit, which it said often heightens tensions rather than diffuses them. It reminded the Gambia Police Force that arbitrary arrests and excessive force violate both national laws and international instruments ratified by The Gambia.
While recognising the duty of the police to maintain law and order, the Commission stressed that this responsibility must be exercised in full compliance with the Constitution, the rule of law, and due process. It also called on authorities to treat this latest tragedy as a wake-up call to accelerate long-overdue security sector reforms, including training officers in human rights, crowd control, and non-lethal policing methods.
Reaffirming its mandate to promote and protect human rights under the NHRC Act 2017, the Commission said it remains committed to working with the Gambia Police Force to balance human rights protections with the need to safeguard lives, property, and public order.
The NHRC also appealed to the youth and wider public to remain calm and refrain from violence, reminding citizens that due process must be allowed to take its course. It emphasised that all individuals suspected of violating the law are entitled to fundamental rights, including the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a competent court of law.
