By Ousman Saidykhan
Ousainou Bojang, the man accused of killing two PIU officers in September 2023, has said the allegations made by the Gambia government spokesperson, Ebrima G. Sankareh, that he was a hired assassin and worked at the Brikama Area Counsel (BAC) are untrue.
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“He said I was working at Brikama Area Council, which is not true. He also said I was hired by the Cassamance Rebel. That, too, is not true,” Bojang told a high court judge in Banjul on Tuesday.
Bojang is standing trial at the High Court for allegedly shooting and killing two Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers and critically injuring one at the Sukuta-Jabang Traffic Lights on September 12, 2023.
On Thursday, September 14, two days after the incident, the Government’s spokesperson said on Coffie Time show on West Coast Radio that Ousainou Bojang, who was just held at that time as the suspect, was a hired assassin.
“The alleged gunman who shot three police officers, which led to the death of two and one seriously injured, is a hired assassin following the latest development after his arrest,” said the Gov’t spokesperson.
Sankareh also said the alleged shooter was a security guard at Brikama Area Council (BAC) and that investigations uncovered that matched videos and images of him recorded by the police during the what was time of the latest court appearance of Chairman Yankuba Darboe.
“I have his photo here in a hoodie. He was actually there and participated in that demonstration in the last court,” said Sankareh, but Ousainou Bojang dismissed these as false. The Brikama Area Council has also denied accusations that the accused was working at the Council.
Ousainou has also dismissed similar accusations made by the national security adviser Abubacarr Jeng on Friday, September 15, 2023, at a press briefing where they updated the public on the progress of investigations into the killings.
“He said I am a Cassamance rebel and that I got the gun from Cassamance. He said I fought for Cassamance where I got the gun from, which is not true,” said Ousainou.
Ousainou said he had nothing to do with the murder of the PIU offices and challenged the authorities who said they saw the video of him shooting the officers to “come and show the video to the world.”
He said: “The people who died are innocent. They should have sympathy and show the video so the case can be concluded in peace.”
