Ebrima Sohna, former Gambian international footballer, has issued a public warning to motorists after narrowly escaping what he believes was a deliberate attempt to cause a fatal road accident.

Mr Sohna, a former midfielder for The Gambia, said the incident happened three days ago after he entered his car and drove off, unaware that the vehicle may have been tampered with.

“Nothing felt unusual when I got into the car,” he said. “About five minutes into the journey, one of the tyres suddenly came off. I was lucky I wasn’t driving at high speed.”

He said the car began to pull sharply to one side, forcing him to fight for control before eventually bringing the vehicle to a stop.

On inspecting the car, Mr Sohna said he discovered that all five wheel bolts securing the tyre had been removed.

“That is what shocked me the most,” he said. “One bolt can loosen, but five cannot just come off by chance. Someone took them out.”

A mechanic and officials from Mr Sohna’s academy were later called to the scene, but a search of the surrounding area failed to recover any of the missing bolts.

Mr Sohna believes the act was intentional and designed to cause a serious accident.
“If something had happened, people would have said it was just an accident,” he said.

“But this was done by someone. It was meant to put my life at risk.”

The former footballer said his decision to speak publicly was motivated by concern for public safety, warning that vehicle tampering may be more common than many realise.
“People need to be careful,” he said.

“Before you drive, check your car, especially if it has been parked for some time. Be mindful of where you park and what you leave unattended.”

He added that mechanical interference, whether with tyres or engines, can turn an ordinary journey into a life-threatening situation.

“Not every crash is simply an accident,” he said. “Sometimes there is human involvement behind it.”

Mr Sohna also urged people to be cautious in their daily lives, saying individuals’ routines are often known to those around them.

“Sometimes the people closest to you know your movements,” he said. “You cannot always predict people’s intentions.”

Describing the experience as deeply disturbing, he said he was still shaken by how close he came to serious harm.
“I keep to myself, I work, and I try to help others,” he said.

“For someone to have the heart to do something like this is very sad.”

Mr Sohna said he hopes that by sharing his experience, others will take extra precautions and avoid similar dangers.

“If this message makes even one person check their car before driving, then it is worth speaking out,” he said.

By Adama Makasuba