Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- The President of the National Livestock Owners Association (NaLOA), has confirmed the shooting incident that occurred in a village called Dongorona in the Lower River Region (LRR) involving two herdsmen and a farmer.
A few days ago, one of the country’s most followed online Platforms, “What’s On Gambia” reported a confrontation between two herdsmen (Biran Jallow and two others), and a farmer (Bubacarr Dem) at Dongoro Ba Village in LRR.
The confrontation according to “What’s On Gambia” was a heated one as Bubacarr Dem fired a gun at them which led to the disappearance of Biran Jallow.
The report has received widespread condemnation from social commentators who urged the authorities to mount a thorough investigation into the issue.
Speaking to the Journalists, the President of the Livestock Owners Association (NaLOA) Mr. Ebrima O. Jallow confirmed the incident and condemned the act of Bubacarr Dem.
Mr. Jallow said on the 7th of August 2025, some herders came from Sibinding, a village in Jara East, to Dongoro Ba. He said these herders were there and then had a confrontation with Mr. Dem, who was asking them to take their animals away from his farmland.
According to Mr. Jallow the herders insisted and told Mr. Dem that “no, we are herding the animals, we are controlling them.” This comment as stated by Mr. Jallow did not go well with Bubacarr Dem, who rushed home, picked up his gun and fired at them.
“When he fires it, then one of the herders runs with the animals. Then one Biran Jallow went missing. Still now, Biran is not seen,” Mr. Jallow revealed.
Mr. Jallow informed the Journalists that the incident found him on his nationwide tour to various livestock owners’ farms. He then explained the steps taken upon hearing the incident.
“Upon receiving the information, during my tour, I visited the people of Dongoro Ba to sit down and discuss with them. I also went to Bureng and invited the family of Biran Jallow and then listened to their story,” he said.
From meeting the family of Biran Jallow and the people of Dongoro Ba, Mr. Jallow revealed that he went to Buren Police Station where Bubacarr Dem was detained to get first-hand information from the Police.
Mr. Jallow said the incident is of concern to NaLOA and its members. He said NaLOA mobilised people to conduct searches of Biran Jallow but to no avail.
”It is a concern. Our people spent the whole day searching the area for Biran Jallow. He’s still missing,” he said.
NaLOA President said there are possibilities that the gun could have killed Biran Jallow. He said, “Possibly the gun could have touched him and then he would have been finished or possibly he would have run away, nobody knows.”
“ I passed by Bureng Police Station and then upon being at Soma in the evening, I visited the police commissioner and I am happy that the police are also doing everything possible to make sure that they do the proper investigation. But it is a concern,” he said.
Mr. Jallow said incidents like this are the reason every year NaLOA go around the country to have dialogue between the herdsmen and farmers.
“Even this year, we have meetings across the region where Chiefs, Governors, and Farmers are invited and discuss peace and stability because our land is very small,” Mr. Jallow said.
Mr. Jallow further calls for respect for their cattle tracks, while calling animal breeders to also have to respect crop farmers’ area.
“But our cattle tracks in this country, most of them are encroached. In fact, 80% of our cattle tracks are encroached. And now this is making it hard,” he said.
Mr. Jallow also stressed that “ to see a farmer taking a gun, pointing at our animals shooting, is something that the National Livestock Owners condemn.”
He said NaLOA engaged both parties, discussed with them to calm down and allow the investigation to go on.
“But we are condemning the act. And farmers should not behave in that way. This is why in other countries, we see farmers and other people killing each other,” he said.
Mr. Jallow also called on the authorities to engage the country’s farmers in a dialogue to ensure that there is no more bloodshed in the sector.
“Governors should be concerned. The Alkalos also should be concerned, even to the central government, to make sure that there is a proper discussion, a proper dialogue so that farmers will not be sitting here and fighting,” he said.
