The Gambia Armed Forces has defended shooting at a ‘drunk’ driver who refused to stop at a vehicle checkpoint (VCP) around the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo.

One of the vehicle passengers sustained gunshot injuries and he is receiving treatment at the Ndemban clinic in Bakau.

Army Director of Press and Public Relations, Colonel Lamin K Sanyany said: “The driver continued to speed towards the soldiers manning the VCP and refused to stop when signalled and nearly ran over one of the soldiers who dived away to avoid a fatal collision.

“Given the imminent danger that the reckless vehicle driver posed to other road users, its occupants and the soldiers at the VCP, one of the soldiers (Cut Offs) aimed at the vehicle’s tyres and opened fire.”

“The aim was to disable and stop the vehicle as well as protect the lives of everyone around the VCP. Subsequently, the soldiers pursued the vehicle and arrested the driver after a short chase from the VCP.

“It was observed that the round ricocheted off and apparently hit one of the occupants of the vehicle, Stanislav Gomez who sustained minor injuries to the thigh. The soldiers provided first aid to the injured occupant before transporting him to the Ndemban Clinic in Bakau for further medical attention,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba