Three journalism students were yesterday robbed of their mobile phones and personal belongings in Bakau.

The students of Media Academy for Journalism and Communication were robbed by a gang of boys around Greater Banjul Upper and Senior School (BS School) at 7pm while on their way home. 

One of the victims Mustapha Jarju recounted his ordeal to Gambiana.

“We usually take a taxi at the main gate of the Independence Stadium in Bakau but it was difficult to get one yesterday so we decided to walk to Westfield.

“But when we got to the BS School that was where the boys attacked us. The robbers took away a mobile phone, wallet and a hand bag.

“The boys come from behind us and one of them pretended he knew me by saying ‘hey boy’, and he forcefully tried to pick my phone from my pocket.

“When I resisted and then I held out my phone in my left hand tightly that was when one of the other boys put me in a chokehold. Another put a knife to my face asking me to surrender my phone to him.”

He added that the other victim, Awa M Ceesay, was assaulted by the boys before robbing her.

“She was punched to the ground and then the attackers took her wallet. She screamed for help. 

“By the time people rushed to our help, the  robbers had left the scene taking our belongings including wallets, a flash-drive containing some of her information and some cash.”

According to him, they have reported the crime to the managing director of Media Academy for Journalism and Communication and the police.

“Our statements were taken by the Criminal Investigative Division of the Kanifing Police Station for further investigation into the matter,” he said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba