By Louise Jobe
The lifeless body of Shakina Imani Chinedu, who is said to be a British citizen, was found in a well at her home in Sinchang, Kombo South.
The 60-year old has been living in The Gambia since 2017 and had shown interest in becoming a Gambian citizen.
The matter is said to have been reported to the Kunkujang Police Station on Thursday 15 February 2024, and investigation revealed that the last communication she made with her family was on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at approximately 10:30 PM.
When contacted, the Police Public Relation Officer, PRO Binta Njie confirmed the story and said the officers of the Gambia Police Force (GPF) have found the lifeless body of Shakina Chinedu, who was reported missing. She said Shakina’s corpse was found on February 16, 2024, in an incomplete compound under mysterious circumstances.
She said investigations into the unfortunate incident continue as she urges the public to come forward and provide any information that may be useful in their investigation.
Meanwhile, Adama Jallow, the Alkalo of Sinchang in Kombo South District of the West Coast Region when contacted, said the tragic death of Shakina Chinedu, who has a compound in his village, took place at his community.
According to the Alkalo, some relatives of the deceased and an intelligence officer (CID) of the Gambia Police Force came to the village on Monday, 12th February to ask him about the whereabouts of the deceased. He said his response was that he had not seen her for some time now, adding that they then proceeded to her compound which was well constructed with well water covered by a barbed wire fence.
According to the Alkalo, upon arrival at the compound, they peeped through the fence and saw her vehicle parked inside, and since the place was getting dark and they could not get access to the compound for further enquiries, they decided to go back and return the following day.
On Tuesday, he said they jumped over the fence to access the compound and conducted a thorough search after breaking the house door, adding that they entered the house and looked all over the rooms but could not find her. He recounted that they later walked around the house only to discover her dead body dumped inside a soak away behind another new building she was constructing in the compound.
The incident, he said, was reported to the officers of the fire and rescue service who came to the scene and collected the dead body.
As investigation continues, the Police said they arrested a young male suspect aged between 20 and 30 years, in connection with the murder of Shakina Chinedu.
The suspect is said to be currently cooperating with the Police in their ongoing investigations.
