By Haddy Touray
The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) on Tuesday welcomed the release of the coroner’s inquest report into the death of Omar Badgie of Mandinari in September 2025, which found that his death resulted from police brutality.
The organization said the findings confirmed accounts indicating that the incident led to a preventable loss of life. It commended the Chief Justice for forwarding the report to the Ministry of Justice and called on the Minister of Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure prompt investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
EFSCRJ stated that the Constitution and the Police Act mandate the police to protect life, liberty, and property, adding that recurring cases point to concerns over the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers.
The rights group also called for accountability beyond direct perpetrators, including senior officers who may have authorized, supervised, or failed to prevent the incident, citing the principle of command responsibility.
It further referred to previous incidents of alleged police brutality, including the Faraba incident in 2018, describing them as indicative of broader institutional challenges within the Gambia Police Force.
EFSCRJ urged for renewed efforts in security sector reform, noting that implementation of past recommendations has remained limited.
The organization called for justice for Omar Badgie and other victims of alleged police brutality, stressing the need for accountability and measures to strengthen public confidence in law enforcement institutions.