The late Major Musa Jammeh, was laid to rest yesterday at Sanchaba Sulay Jobe cemetery, where thousands of sympathisers, relatives and well-wishers gathered to pay their last respects.

Soldiers also came in large numbers to attend the funeral of their colleague; military gun salutes, blowing of the saxaphone and flute in the remembrance of their fallen comrade, regarded as a true soldier and comrade-in-arms was the order of the day.

Considered a hardworking and obedient soldier with a high sense of responsibility as Principal Protection Officer to President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, Major Musa Jammeh was highly regarded by all. Major Musa Jammeh’s body was carried by fellow majors dressed  in their ceremonial suits, shedding drops of tears as they carried their comrade’s coffin to its final resting place.

Speaking before the interment, Imam Abdoulie Fatty of State House Mosque described the late Major Jammeh as a pious Muslim, both of them having performed Hajj and Umrah together in Mecca.

Imam Fatty pointed out that death is something inevitable which every human-being must face. He noted that to be a soldier is very important and indeed a good and noble job.
He said even in the time of the Holy Prophet, there were soldiers who fought battles commonly known as Jihad.
Imam Fatty added that being a soldier does not mean that you should not pray or forget about your religion, noting that everyone will account for what they do on the Day of Judgement. He advised the soldiers to be steadfast in their religion and respect their profession.
Imam Fatty called on the people to forgive one another, saying that those who were offended by Musa Jammeh   need to forgive him as he will also forgive those who offended him.

Dr Ajaratou Isatou Njie-Saidy, vice president and special envoy of President Yahya Jammeh said The Gambia has lost a great soldier, dedicated and repectful of his job. She said President Jammeh decorated the late Major Jammeh because of his loyalty and dedication to duty.
She said President Jammeh is very sad and shocked about the death of Major Jammeh who was a patriotic soldier and citizen.
She added that the government received the news of Major Musa’s death with shock and she prayed that his eternal soul lives in peace.

For his part Brigadier General Lang Tombong Tamba, who hails from the same village as the late Major Jammeh, said it was Major Jammeh who trained him to become a soldier.
He described the late Major as a man of intergrity, honesty and dedication to duty. He said Major Jammeh respected all his superiors irrespective of their age, noting that Major Musa worked with a clean heart.
The Brigadier General said that since the hospitalisation of the late Major Jammeh, he and other members of the Gambia Armed Forces and other national security services had visited him. Even in his hospital bed, Major Musa Jammeh would give his military comrades advice on taking care of The Gambia’s border security and making sure that peace and stability prevails in the country.

Brig. Gen Tamba pointed out that if money would prevent Musa’s death, he would not have died as President Jammeh made all efforts to save Musa’s life since he fell sick. He urged all the security services to be dedicated to their job and make sure that the peaceful atmosphere that exists in the country  would be a lasting one.

Present at the burial were the Chief Justice, virtually all Cabinet members, National Assembly members, security services, civil society, chiefs, Alkalolu among a vast crowd of mourners.

Profile
Major Musa Jammeh was born on the 12 December 1958 in Sintet Village, Foni Jarrol District.  He attended Sintet Primary School and upon completion of Secondary School, enlisted into the former Gambia National Gendarmerie in 1982.  His high sense of dedication to duty made him rise through the ranks.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and Member of the Order of the Republic of The Gambia.