By Alieu Ceesay and Momodou Gagigo, reporting from Dongoroba
On Saturday, August 23, 2025, a somber gathering under a mango tree in Dongoroba village reflected the profound grief and anger of a community mourning the loss of 15-year-old Biran Jallow. Family, friends, and sympathizers converged as state security officers escorted the primary suspect, farmer Babucarr Dem, to the village to identify the site where he allegedly buried the young herdsman’s body after confessing to his killing.
The incident, rooted in a grazing rights dispute, has left the community reeling and reignited calls for justice and peaceful conflict resolution in Gambia’s rural heartlands.
Dem, under heavy security, led police to an undisclosed location behind the village, near maize and groundnut farms, where he claimed to have buried Jallow’s body. Authorities barred villagers and journalists from accessing the site, heightening tensions in an already emotional atmosphere. The police, supported by the Fire Service, are intensifying their investigation to gather evidence and confirm Dem’s account of the tragic events that unfolded on August 7, 2025.
Biran’s father, Omar Jallow, delivered a heart-wrenching plea for justice, his voice trembling with grief. “I’m still grappling with the devastating loss of my son, Biran Jallow,” he said. “I sent him to Daarah with his teacher’s sons, and he came to Dongoroba with their cattle. Whatever happened here led to his death. I condemn this heinous act in the strongest terms. Biran was my hope, my joy. His loss is irreparable.”
Omar condemned Dem’s actions as “premeditated and ruthless,” asserting that the farmer could have sought an amicable resolution or reported the issue to authorities instead of resorting to violence. “I will never forgive him for taking my child’s life,” he added, resolute in his demand for justice.
Omar recounted the agonizing 15-day search for his son, scouring farms, abandoned wells, and forests at his own expense, clinging to hope that Biran might be alive. “My worst fears have been confirmed,” he said, his words echoing the unbearable pain of a father’s loss.
Another family member, Saidou Jallow, described Biran as a “good boy” and a respected figure in the community despite his youth. He recalled the shocking moment he learned of the shooting. “That evening, Nganye Bah and my son Musa returned home drenched from the rain. After Magrib prayers, I asked Musa where Biran was. Nganye said they’d been shot at while grazing cattle.”
When Saidou and the boys confronted Dem at his home, the farmer allegedly insulted and threatened them, escalating community concerns about his behavior.
The incident stemmed from a confrontation over cattle grazing near Dem’s farm. According to reports, Dem fired shots—first into the air, then allegedly toward Biran—after the herders refused to move their cattle, which were grazing 15 meters from his crops. Nganye Bah escaped unharmed, but Biran vanished, leaving only his mobile phone behind. Dem’s initial arrest and controversial release on bail by Bureng Police sparked outrage, but his rearrest and confession have shifted focus to the ongoing investigation.
Bubacarr Barry, a local youth, expressed sorrow over the tragedy and urged calm. “This is sorrowful and unfortunate, but we pray for peace in the district and Gambia at large,” he said, appealing to young people to avoid vigilante actions and focus on regional development.
Murder, a capital offense in Gambia, carries a life sentence upon conviction. The Gambia Police Force has not yet provided an official comment, and efforts to reach regional officers were unsuccessful at the time of this report. The case has highlighted the persistent challenge of farmer-herder conflicts in Jarra East, where overlapping land use often sparks disputes. As Dongoroba mourns, the community awaits answers, hoping for justice for Biran Jallow and measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
