Gambia police have confirmed the death of two young men during a village protest against sand excavation. The two men claim the excavation work is damaging their rice fields.
The office of the police inspector general said a clash between villagers and police led to the “regrettable death” of two men and left several others injured.
“The office of the Inspector General of Police wishes to make it clear that it did not authorise the use of firearms and will investigate the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident,” it added.
Tension between the villages in Faraba Banta and police has been mounting over the impact of sand excavation on the farmers’ land.
A protest at the end of May saw police use rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protestors.
