In the ongoing murder trial of Ousainou Bojang and his sister, Amie Bojang, before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court in Banjul, Bakary Mankajang, the proprietor of Mankajang Daily, testified on Monday as the ninth defence witness.
The murder of two Police Intervention Unit (PIU) policemen at the Sukuta–Jabang Traffic Lights in 2023 is the charge against Ousainou Bojang, while his sister, Amie Bojang, is charged with accessory after the fact.
Senior Counsel Lamin J. Darboe represented Ousainou Bojang, Counsel Adama Sillah represented Amie Bojang, and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) A.M. Yusuf represented the state.
Mankajang described himself as a journalist who lives in Fajikunda, and Counsel Darboe led him in presenting his evidence-in-chief. After that, he was questioned about his role in the events leading up to the police killings.
Mankajang informed the court that he interviewed Mama Jabbie (PW3) on September 15, 2023, after she had arrived back in The Gambia from Cassamance the day before with the accused. He claims that Mama Jabbie described how Ousainou Bojang was referred to her by a man named Alfusainey when he arrived in Cassamance during the interview, which was held in the Yarambamba home of President Adama Barrow’s sister.
In his testimony, the journalist claimed that Mama Jabbie informed him that she “realized that Ousainou had done something upon seeing him” and that during their interrogation, Ousainou admitted to killing two police officers. The interview was recorded in Yarambamba and conducted in front of other people, Mankajang stressed.
He further told the court that he and colleague journalist Lamin Fatty of Kerr Fatou went to Jululung, Cassamance, to interview Alfusainey after receiving proposals from his followers and public interest.
Alfusainey first refused to speak, claiming he had been “instructed not to talk to anyone” prior to speaking with the police, according to Mankajang. But he consented to give an interview after getting the go-ahead from the authorities.
Off-camera, Mankajang testified that Alfusainey said Ousainou instructed him to seek advice from a marabout due to “a problem with his white lady.” He was then sent to Mama Jabbie. Upon turning on the video, however, Alfusainey altered his story, claiming that Ousainou admitted to having “killed two people from The Gambia and needed help.”
During interrogation, Mankajang acknowledged that he had videotaped both interviews and knew the footage was accessible to the general public on the internet. Since Mama Jabbie had also been filming the chat, he clarified that he later edited and distributed the footage himself, but pointed out that parts of it had already gone viral on social media.
When DPP Yusuf questioned if Mankajang still had the original, uncut versions of the videos, the reporter told the judge that he had both the unecut and altered versions and could show them if needed.
After providing this guarantee, Justice Jaiteh approved Counsel Darboe’s request that the witness present the unedited versions of the two interviews—with Mama Jabbie and Alfusainey—as evidence.
The court postponed the case to October 13, 2025, so that the defense hearing could continue and the unedited video footage could be produced.
