The family of a woman shot dead by security forces on March 4th in Manjai Kunda is calling for justice. Ya Binta Jarju, 27, died after she was hit while on a taxi whose driver refused to stop at a checkpoint. The family wants the untimely death to be properly investigated.
The police described the incident as regrettable. But the government is yet to say whether the victim’s family will be compensated, considering her role as the breadwinner of her family.
Ya Binta’s tearful younger sister described her elder sister’s death as very unfortunate. Awa Jarju said Ya Binta was very supportive and irreplaceable.
“After the death of our father last year, it was Ya Binta who assumed the responsibility of supporting the family. She was the breadwinner of the family who was taking care of everything including feeding, rent, school fees and other basic necessities. We have really lost our support,” Awa told Foroyaa newspaper while battling tears.
Ya Binta left behind a widow mother who engages in petty trade at Albert Market in Banjul to cover some of the family’s expenses. She was eldest child of a family of six. She left home at 6 PM on March 4th to attend a social event at Manjai Kunda only her family to be informed about the tragedy.
Awa said she received a call from a man at midnight telling her that Ya Binta was in trouble and that she should come to Kotu. Confuse-laden sister was shocked to find her sister dead inside a taxi.
Ya Binta’s remains were interred at the Old Jeshwang Cemetery on March 9th. The Banjul native was a Red Cross volunteer who worked as a cashier at Comfort Neon Sign.
Her funeral was graced by a large crowd of grieving relatives from relatives, friends, co-workers, Red Cross volunteers and neighbours. Mourners assembled in Banjul mortuary in the morning and later escorted the corpse to the Independence Drive Mosque for prayers before she was ferried to her final resting place.
Everyone described the late Ya Binta as a friendly, hardworking and determined young lady whose death is a big lost to her family but to the community at large.
Hundreds of people extended their condolences to the family at 14 Old Perseverance Street in Banjul.
Ends
Talking of a compensation at this point of time, in the untimely death of a young Gambian woman, hardworking and a promising one like Ya Binta?,I think what one should be thinking of now, is to seek for investigations on the incident and a fair trial put forward so that justice takes its cause.
Do we know the consequence in ‘jump for conpensation’?
The consequence will be; I will kill and conpensate.
May God guide and protect Ya Binta’s family.