Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – An armed robbery in the village of Cheedy Wolof, Upper Badibou District, has left two children injured, as gunmen stormed a local shop and fled with a large sum of money. Former presidential candidate Alieu Sowe confirmed the incident to Kerr Fatou, describing the harrowing ordeal that took place in the early hours of the morning.

According to Sowe, the assailants struck at 3:25 a.m., targeting a shop owned by a Mauritanian businessman. “The armed robbers arrived and immediately held us hostage inside my house,” he recounted. “They stayed for over thirty minutes, firing shots continuously before breaking into the shop and making away with a significant amount of money. About ten minutes after they left, soldiers arrived at the scene.”

The violent attack resulted in injuries to two children, who were promptly taken to Farafenni Hospital for medical attention. Their condition remains undisclosed.

This latest robbery marks the second such attack in Cheedy Wolof within a short span of time. In 2024, the same Mauritanian shopkeeper was targeted, suffering injuries during an armed robbery in which the perpetrators also escaped with a large sum of money.

The incident underscores the growing wave of armed robberies in The Gambia, which has seen an uptick in violent crimes targeting businesses and individuals, both in rural and urban areas. Communities remain on edge as security forces struggle to contain the surge in criminal activities.

Authorities have yet to make any arrests related to this latest attack, but the incident highlights the urgent need for increased security measures to curb the rising trend of armed robberies across the country.

Source: Kerr Fatou