The brutal killing of Miss Isatou Fatty at her workplace, an exchange bureau, has reignited intense public debate. As is often the case in moments of collective grief and anger, emotions have run high, and many voices have hastily pointed accusing fingers at the government, alleging a “pervasive security failure” in the country. While the outrage is understandable, such conclusions deserve more sober reflection.
Based on information available thus far, Miss Fatty was working alone at the Heewal Transfer Bureau de Change in the Burusibi Turntable area when she was viciously attacked by an unknown assailant who fled the scene and remains at large. She was discovered bleeding profusely from multiple stab wounds inflicted with a blunt weapon and was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Whether the crime was motivated by robbery remains unclear. What is undeniable, however, is that this heinous act occurred in broad daylight, in an area long considered safe and bustling with activity, an indication of the attacker’s chilling audacity and cruelty.
To reflexively blame the government without offering practical, preventive solutions amounts to little more than unconstructive outrage. Some commentators have even sought to link the tragedy to delays in Security Sector Reform (SSR), a phrase that has increasingly become a convenient catch-all explanation for virtually every societal ill, no matter how unrelated.
Comparisons have also been drawn to a similar incident in the Westfield area some years ago, where a woman working alone in an exchange bureau was attacked and killed. In that case, however, functional security cameras proved decisive, enabling law enforcement to swiftly identify, track, and apprehend the perpetrator. That tragic episode should have served as a lasting lesson to all exchange bureau operators about the non-negotiable importance of functional surveillance systems.
In the case of Miss Fatty, reports indicate that security cameras were installed at the bureau, but were not operational at the time of the attack. This troubling detail shifts the spotlight, at least initially, to the business owner, who failed to ensure that basic security measures were functional and effective. That said, while security cameras are invaluable investigative tools, they are inherently reactive. They document crimes after they occur but not prevent them. What is required is a proactive security framework that minimizes the likelihood of such crimes occurring in the first place, especially in cash-intensive businesses like exchange bureaus.
Following the armed robbery at Burusibi Access Bank some years ago, a clear policy shift became evident with banks across the country now guarded by armed police officers, a measure that has effectively deterred further armed robberies. Given the substantial volumes of cash handled daily by exchange bureaus, it is both logical and necessary that similar minimum security standards apply. At the very least, bureau owners should be required to install and maintain functional surveillance systems, employ trained security personnel, or ensure that no bureau is operated by a lone employee, as was tragically the case with Isatou Fatty.
It is therefore imperative that the police and relevant regulatory authorities make such measures mandatory prerequisites for the issuance of operating licenses. These requirements must be backed by regular inspections and strict enforcement, including heavy fines and closure of businesses that repeatedly fail to comply.
Furthermore, employees in exchange bureaus should be protected by formal security-guarantee agreements, signed prior to employment, affirming that adequate safety measures are in place. Where such safeguards are compromised or withdrawn, employees should have the unquestionable right to suspend work immediately, without fear of reprisal.
As a nation, we must also confront an uncomfortable but universal truth that in all democratic societies, where freedom of movement, choice, and association are cherished, crime remains an unfortunate and unavoidable reality. Globally, festive seasons such as Christmas, Eid, and the New Year are known to coincide with spikes in criminal activity, as desperation drives criminals to become more daring and ruthless. These periods demand heightened vigilance. Homes are invaded even while occupied, individuals are assaulted in public spaces, banks and exchange bureaus are targeted and criminals stop at little when quick money is the objective.
While I extend my deepest condolences to the family of the late Miss Isatou Fatty and pray that her soul rests in eternal peace, I also urge the police, the business community, employees, and the wider public to reflect carefully on the lessons of this tragedy. What is increasingly, and unfairly, being framed as government incompetence or a uniquely Gambian crisis is, in truth, a shared societal responsibility. Only by acknowledging this collective duty, and acting upon it decisively, can we hope to reduce the frequency, severity, and repetition of such heartbreaking losses.
Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year in advance.
By Lt Colonel Samsudeen Sarr (Rtd.), former commander of the Gambia National Army
