Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia) A wave of police violence in The Gambia has drawn attention from civil society, after journalists, activists and ordinary citizens were assaulted, arrested and teargassed in incidents spanning from Banjul to Jabang last week.

The movement, Team Gom Sa Bopa, in a statement described the events as “a stark reminder of democratic backsliding” under President Adama Barrow, accusing the authorities of undermining independent institutions and disregarding constitutional safeguards.

The tension began on 15th September, when police officers disrupted the Auditor General’s press conference at the National Audit Office (NAO) and forcefully removed him from his office. Citizens who later gathered outside the NAO to protest what they called a “constitutional coup” were met with a violent crackdown. Activist Alieu Bah was thrown into a police pickup truck, journalists were beaten, and officers fired teargas into the crowd.

Three days later, on 18th September, the violence shifted to Jabang, where officers from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) and the Anti-Crime Unit were filmed slapping detainees already in custody.

The most alarming case, according to the statement, involved a raid on the home of state broadcaster journalist Kadija Bokum. Witnesses said PIU officers stormed her residence, beat family members, fired teargas, and seized cash. Bokum was reportedly released only after one officer recognized her. The following day, officers allegedly returned to demand she delete video evidence from her phone.

“These incidents highlight the gravity of unchecked police misconduct and cap a week of unprecedented brutality,” Team Gom Sa Bopa said.

The group urged the National Human Rights Commission and the Gambia Police Force to investigate the abuses, hold officers accountable, and restore public trust. It also called on victims of police violence to file formal complaints with the NHRC and the police’s Human Rights and Internal Disciplinary Unit.