A Nigerian soldier serving with the Ecowas Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG) has died in Banjul on Thursday evening, ECOMIG said in a statement.   

Staff Sergeant Bamidele Akinwale of the Nigerian Contingent was said to have died from suspected cardiac arrest.

President Adama Barrow has expressed his shock on the untimely death of the soldier and thanked him for serving the Gambia.

In a press release from the President’s Director of press, Amie Bojang Sissoho, said:

“President Barrow has received with deep sadness the news of the untimely demise of Sergeant Chief Bamidele Akinwale of the Nigerian Contingent of the ECOWAS Military Intervention in The Gambia.

“On behalf of the Gambian people, the president sends his condolences to the family of the deceased. Thank you to the late Sergeant Akinwale for his bravery and dedication to peace and security in the Gambia and the sub-region.”  

According to sources the late soldier is currently being kept at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital Morgue while arrangements are being made to repatriate the body to Nigeria.