Family of Young Gambian Auditor Killed Speaks to TAT as Suspects Appear in Court

The Family of the young Auditor killed by two youngsters two weeks ago have spoken out for the first time since the incident.

The alleged killers earlier this week appeared before a lower court in Banjul where the case was transferred to the superior court for hearing as the lower court lacks jurisdiction to try such cases.

The suspects Hadim Jeng, Muhammed Njie and Muhammed Touray of Bakoteh are charged with the murder of Ousman Jarju whose killing has sparked a fresh debate on the country’s waning security situation.

In a Thank you message  by the Family, Osman Jarju’s elder brother, Lamin Jarju who lives in New York city said: “On Behalf of the family of the late  Ousman Jarju in  Brikama, Foni and Kiang,  I wish to sincerely thank all Gambians at home and abroad for standing by us during this challenging and unexpected moment. We sincerely appreciate the emotional support during our moment of grief.  The outpouring of messages were both consoling and reassuring, knowing Ousman has touched many lives in different ways. We are particularly thankful to The Gambia  Government under the National  Audit Office for facilitating the logistics to get Ousman buried in his home village Foni Jarrol.’

The family also thanked the Gambia police force for ensuring the quick arrest of culprits now facing charges. We cannot thank everyone enough.’

In a sobering message, the family said they had  lost a young, brilliant and decent family member just as they celebrated his budding and promising career as an auditor.

Ousman met his untimely death barely a week after returning from his first official course in the Republic of Tanzania.

‘We have lost a brother and a son, but the Gambia has lost a  promising son whose greatest ambition was to serve his Country. Ousman allegedly lost his life due to a knife stab and this leaves a permanent scar in our hearts forever.  It breaks our hearts as we try to picture what he must have gone through mentally in those final moments. We believe Justice will take its course in this matter in order to set a precedent for the future. The Nation cannot afford to lose young, very enthusiastic, brilliant, patriotic sons like Ousman. All they need is a guarantee of their security to Serve their Nation’, a family representative told Alkamba Times and urged the government of The Gambia to take the right course of action to protect lives and property by seeking timely and transparent Justice for victims like Ousman.