“People are killed and life continues, not because it should, but because there is often no follow-up, no closure, and no sense of urgency,” Hon. Bah said, adding that the absence of consequences has gradually become routine. He described the silence that follows such incidents as a defining feature of the current era, one that undermines public trust and the rule of law.
To illustrate the scale of the problem, the Banjul North lawmaker compiled a list of 19 named victims of violent crimes recorded between 2018 and 2025. The cases, drawn from reported incidents, include deaths resulting from stabbings, gang assaults, domestic killings, ritual killings, and robberies.
Among those listed are Musa Colley, who died in a gang assault in 2018; Kebba Secka, stabbed in 2019; Kantara Touray, killed in a domestic incident in 2020; and Marie Mendy, a victim of a ritual killing in 2021. Several other cases occurred in 2021 alone, highlighting what Hon. Bah views as a particularly alarming period.
The list also includes high-profile cases from subsequent years, such as the murder of Binta Gassama at her home in 2022, the killing of Momodou Lamarana Jallow in a hotel the same year, and more recent incidents including the 2024 stabbing of Fatoumatta Kargbo during a Bureau de Change robbery and the 2025 killing of Isatou Fatty under similar circumstances. The most recent case cited is that of Saikou Freeman in 2025, which remains under investigation.
Hon. Bah stressed that the compilation of names does not imply legal conclusions or convictions but serves as a reflection of reported violent deaths and a call for national reflection.
“This is not The Gambia we want,” he said, urging authorities to treat every violent death with seriousness, transparency, and a commitment to justice.
He concluded by paying tribute to the victims, calling for their memories to inspire collective action to end impunity and restore public confidence. “May their gentle souls continue to rest in perfect peace.
