Two students have died of gruesome injuries after a landmine exploded in a forest at The Gambia’s border village of Gilanfari in Foni Bintang District, Western Region, the Daily Observer has been informed.

Edrissa Badjie, Lamin Jammeh and Jainaba Badjie were reported to have set out to fetch sticks for the fencing of their school, Tamba Kunda Lower Basic School.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday, December 3, reportedly took place around a spot in the forest, condemned as a “no go area”, apparently due to the dangers associated with it. Personnel of the Gambia Police Force were spotted at the scene as the news spread.

Edrissa was said to have died on the spot when the landmine went off, while Lamin died at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital. Jainaba Badjie, who also sustained injuries has since been admitted at RVTH.

The Daily Observer was reliably informed that Edrissa Badjie was laid to rest at Farato Village in Kombo North, while Lamin Jammeh was buried at Kunkujang Mariama. Contacted on the incident, the spokesman of the Gambia Police Force, Inspector Sulayman Secka confirmed the story and then advised the villagers to distance themselves from the area, as other landmines might have been buried there.