The families of the December 30 failed coup in The Gambia will finally get closure to what must have been a very harrowing experience. The remains of the three soldiers, who died in a failed coup attempt to overthrow the former president Yahya Jammeh, will be handed over to their families for burial.

A press release from the December 30 Foundation, set up in their memory, stated that “the bodies of the three fallen heroes of the December 30th will be handed over to their families on Wednesday 9 January 2019 at the Ministry of Justice Building at 11am.

“The funeral and burials of all three fallen December 30th heroes will take place on Friday 11 January 2019 at the Kanifing South Estate mosque ( Imam Baba Leigh ‘s mosque).

“Recitation of the Holy Quran will start at 10am and folllowed by testimonials by representatives from each family of the fallen heroes, some of the living December 30th heroes, December 30th foundation members and others.

“Khutaba starts at 1pm and Imam Sawanneh from the Kanifing South Mosque will be the visiting Imam to preside over the prayers. Their final resting place will be at the Kanifing South Cemetery.”

It could be recalled that on 30 December 2014, a group of armed men under the command of Lt Col Lamin Sanneh staged an attack on the State House in an attempt to overthrow the former President Jammeh. Four people, including Lt Col Lamin Sanneh, Captain Njaga Jagne and Alagie Nyass were killed. Their bodies were reportedly transported to the Fonis where they were buried in a mass grave.

The Gambia Police Force in 2017 exhumed their bodies after a tip off for forensic examination to determine their identities. The exhumed remains were positively identified and preparations made to hand them over to the bereaved families.