Thousands of sympathisers on Friday gathered at the Gunjur cemetery to attend the funeral of another gallant officer of The Gambia Armed Forces, Major Famara Jammeh, who perished in a helicopter crash on Monday March 3, 2008 in the Kingdom of Nepal.

It would be too far beyond understanding were God to have given human being life only to take it away again without consolation as in the case of the late major Famara Jammeh better known as FAMO.

Famara Jammeh’s gallantry, unshakable faith and loyalty to the Gambian leader President Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh and the chief of Defence Staff Major General lang Tombong Tamba triggered the thousands of sympathisers.

Speaking at a high profile funeral second only to “Arafa” day in Mecca punctuated with grief, Colonel Masaneh Kinteh described the late Major Famara Jammeh as a gallant, discipline and moral soldier. He said “the late Famara Jammeh was promoted to the rank of Major two weeks ago. He was a highly professional soldier without doubt and he died in the service of peace”.

On the death of Major Jammeh, Col Kinteh said, “Investigations have disclosed that Famara together with eleven other United Nations peace keepers were in a helicopter travelling from one of their bases heading towards the capital of the Kingdom of Nepal when the aircraft was engulfed into flames by a lightning”.

“I must thank the President and Commander-in-Chief Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, the Chief of Defence Staff Major General Lang Tombong Tamba and all those who contributed both in cash and kind towards the recovery and the transportation of the corpse, including the escort of the fallen hero Famara Jammeh to The Gambia.

Imam Baba Leigh also speaking at funeral, describe the late Famara Jammeh as a true muslim whose hereafter will be in heaven. He said Famara was a soldier who was worth his salt and should be admired as he died in the service of humanity in a peacekeeping mission.

Imam Momodou Lamin Touray, deputy Imam of State House, described the late Famara Jammeh as a true muslim saying that he was a member of the State House mosque committee. “Famara died on a right course”, he said. The Gambian leader, President Jammeh, gave D50,000 to the family of the late Famara Jammeh.

This was followed by a donation of ten bags of rice and two bags of sugar from the State House mosque committee. Major General Lang Tombong Tamba also donated an undisclosed amount. The police, and immigration departments also gave a cash donation to the family.

As a serving member of the Gambia Armed Forces Major Jammeh was honoured with the customary gun salute as last respect to a fallen colleague.