𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐥, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐭

The Gambia Police Force (GPF) has announced significant breakthroughs in its investigations into two major armed robbery cases—one in Banjul and another involving the Access Bank heist in Brusubi.

In the Banjul case, officers have arrested multiple suspects linked to an armed robbery at El Hella Shop on Hegan Street, where over D1.2 million and 1.65 million CFA were stolen at gunpoint.

According to reports, the complainant, Muhammed Seedy Hydra, had traveled from Brikama to Banjul to purchase goods when he was attacked by two armed men inside the shop. The robbers, who arrived in an unregistered ash-colored BMW, held him at gunpoint before making off with the cash. The suspects later abandoned the vehicle in Banjul and used public transport to escape to Sting Corner, where they divided the stolen money.

Following intense police investigations, officers arrested Ousainou Jobarteh, an Ivorian national residing in Busumbala, on the morning of Sunday, February 9, 2025. Authorities recovered D70,250 and 465,000 CFA from him. During interrogation, Jobarteh confessed to conspiring with Abdoulie Jallow, a 24-year-old resident of Barra, and using his BMW (BJL 4871B) to execute the robbery.

Jobarteh further revealed that Amadou Wurry Jallow, a mechanic, was assigned to drive the BMW out of Banjul for maintenance and repainting to erase evidence. However, police managed to locate and intercept the vehicle at Bond Road at around 9:00 PM on the same day.

Later that afternoon, officers arrested Abdoulie Jallow and his girlfriend, Bella James, at Serekunda Villa at 4:30 PM. During the operation, police recovered **D198,000 from Jallow, while his Wave account contained D24,000. No CFA was found in his possession.

Investigators also discovered that Jobarteh had entrusted D70,250 and 465,000 CFA to his wife, Tida Nyang, and given her an additional D3,000 for personal use. Additionally, he admitted to handing over D304,000 to a woman named Odile Secka in Banjul.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, authorities in Guinea-Bissau have arrested Ansu Jarju, a Gambian national, in connection with the Access Bank robbery in Brusubi. He has since been handed over to The Gambia Police Force for extradition and prosecution.

Police have also recovered firearms and other incriminating evidence, further strengthening their case against the arrested individuals. Investigators are now probing whether these suspects are linked to other armed robberies across the country.

The GPF has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. Law enforcement officials have been commended for their swift action and have assured Gambians that efforts to maintain security and order will continue.

This remains an ongoing investigation, and further updates will be provided as new developments emerge.