Brusubi Murder: Gambians call for mandatory security guards at forex bureaus

It is barely two years after the brutal killing of a young forex cashier at Westfield. On Saturday, Isatou Fatty was also murdered inside Heewal Forex Bureau at the Brusubi Turntable, raising renewed fears for the safety of workers mostly young women left alone to guard large sums of money.

The situation is now pushing Gambians, calling for mandatory security guards at every bureau.

In January 2024, Fatoumatta Kargbo was killed while on duty at a forex bureau in Westfield. Her case is still crawling through the courts, with no justice in sight. Now, history has repeated itself.

The latest killing has reignited public anger and exposed what many describe as a dangerous pattern of neglecting the forex bureau sector.

Speaking to The Point, concerned citizens, workers, and operators expressed outrage and fear, while demanding urgent action from regulators and authorities.

Omar Manneh describes the killings as painful evidence of a systemic failure, blaming weak regulation and poor enforcement in a sector that handles large amounts of cash daily.

“When will regulators stand firm and make security mandatory?” he asked. “It is unacceptable that forex bureaus operate without trained guards. This is not an oversight, it is negligence.”

Manneh also raised alarm over the conditions under which young women work. Many, he said, are left alone, unprotected, and earning as little as D5,000 a month.

“This is not just a labour issue. It is a human rights issue, no amount of money exchanged at a counter is worth a human life,” he stressed.

For Sophie Sowe, who works at a forex bureau, the fear is personal.

“This is very devastating, it happened last year and it has happened again. We are mostly alone, we are women, and anyone can walk in. You don’t know who is who.”

She explained that workers are expected to open their doors to everyone, without checks or warning signs, until it is too late.

“We need security guards, surveillance cameras, and someone at the entrance,” she appealed. “That is the only way to reduce or stop these incidents.”

Musa Bah echoed similar frustrations, calling for mandatory security across all bureaus.

“Killing innocent people at their workplace is getting out of hand,” he said. “The woman killed last year is still waiting for justice. This delay shows a broken justice system and a government that appears unbothered.”

From the perspective of operators, Alpha Barry, a bureau owner, describes the incidents as heartbreaking.

“No employer wants to see their staff killed in cold blood,” he said. “This should be a wake-up call for all of us to tighten security and create safe spaces for our employees.”

Barry said measures such as escape routes, surveillance systems, and visible security could help deter crime and trace perpetrators.

“These things happen unexpectedly,” he added, “but preparation can save lives.”

As another family mourns and another case enters an already slow justice system, one message rings clear; the killings are no longer isolated tragedies. They are warnings.

Source: The Point