President Adama Barrow has asked for a national prayer service for the late Inspector general of police, Alhaji Mamour Jobe, who was laid to rest today.

Mamour Jobe passed away on Saturday at the Medicare Clinic. He was 61 years old.

President Barrow paid tribute to the late police chief and said he had lost a great friend.

“This is a great loss to the nation. He was not only IGP but a social worker who supported many communities. I have lost a great friend,” the president said. 

The late police chief was laid to rest today in Sinchu Alagie after a funeral ceremony attended by thousands of people among them senior Gambia government officials and foreign dignitaries from Senegal. 

Tourism minister Hamat Bah, who represented President Barrow, led the eulogy and praised the late police chief for his selfless service to the nation. 

Mr Bah told mourners that: “[the president] has asked for more prayers for Mamour and he asked me to tell you that even the family of Mamour Jobe tried a lot for my government [Barrow].”

He said the president has given a sum of D100,000 as his personal condolences as well as another D100,000 as government condolences.

Meanwhile, Mr Bah urged the public “to be mindful of their fellow beings and always remember God and stop anything that could taint their reputation.

“Let’s stop insulting and tarnishing each other’s image because we will all die one day.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba