Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – The trial of Bubacarr Drammeh, the man accused of killing Buba Jammeh during a violent land dispute between Gunjur and Berending in 2019, resumed on Wednesday with harrowing eyewitness testimony.
Following the 2019 incident, Drammeh was arrested and detained at Mile Two Central Prison but escaped in 2020. He was recaptured in April 2025 in Senegal through a joint operation with Gambian authorities. Days later, the Attorney General’s Chambers indicted him on the murder and attempted murder charges.
The case, which has gripped communities in Kombo South, stems from a confrontation on March 16, 2019, over disputed farmland at Madina Salam.
According to the indictment, Drammeh is charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder, notably causing the death of Buba Jammeh by shooting him with a gun, attempting to unlawfully cause the death of Ebrima Darboe by shooting at him, and attempting to cause the death of Ebrima Colley by aiming and shooting at him. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Eyewitness Account
Testifying before the High Court in Banjul, Pa Boy Jammeh, a native of Gunjur and the prosecution’s first witness, recounted the day’s events in detail. He told the court that he personally saw Drammeh with a gun during the confrontation.
“We were demarcating our land with a bulldozer when people from Berending emerged from the bush with cutlasses. Among them was Buba Drammeh [the accused], who carried a gun,” the witness said.
According to Pa Boy Jammeh, the attackers ordered the group to stop the bulldozer, which they refused. “The accused fired the first shot at the driver of the bulldozer, but it missed. He then reloaded and shot Buba Jammeh in the stomach as he walked toward him. Buba fell and cried out, saying, ‘Amanding (the accused) has finished me,’” he told the court.
The witness described how others tried to stop the bleeding by tying clothes around the victim’s stomach before police arrived and rushed him to Gunjur Health Centre. He was later transferred toward Brikama but died on the way.
“Some of our guys rushed to bring clothes and tie Buba Jammeh’s stomach. Even at that, the push and pull was still going on, but most of our people ran away after the accused (Bubacarr Drammeh) shot Buba Jammeh (the victim),” the witness testified.
The witness told the court that he later saw the police, believing that someone must have told them. He said by the time the police vehicle arrived at the scene, most people had run away, including the accused person (Bubacarr Drammeh).
The witness told the court that when the police arrived, they picked up Buba Jammeh and rushed him to the hospital. He said other people also joined the police to take Buba Jammeh to the hospital.
“We took our bicycles and followed them to the Gunjur Health Centre. He (Buba Jammeh) was taken to Brikama; on their way to Brikama Hospital, he died,” the witness told the court.
The witness told the court that he received the news while at the police station in Gunjur. He said other people were injured and were brought to the Police Station by a PIU vehicle.
“Until the time you went to the police station, did the accused person tell you anything before or after the shooting?” Counsel Mballow asked.
“No, he did not tell me anything,” the witness responded.
The prosecution is led by Principal State Counsel M.D. Mballow, alongside Senior State Counsels I. Camara and M.N. Njie. The accused is represented by Senior Counsel L.S. Camara and Counsel F. Jallow.
The case is adjourned to October 16, 2025, for cross-examination of the witness by the defence Counsel.
