Two members of the Gambia Armed Forces were arrested in Dobong village on Thursday after residents reportedly caught them in the act of harvesting vulture heads, allegedly for ritual purposes.
The suspects, both soldiers stationed at Yundum Barracks, were apprehended by villagers and later handed over to officers at the Bwiam Police Station.
Local sources say the men were found with the remains of dead vultures, which they were allegedly mutilating to extract heads an act that has sparked outrage and renewed calls for tougher action against wildlife crimes.
The arrests come at a time when the West Coast Region has been witnessing a concerning increase in vulture deaths. Conservationists have warned that the trend could have serious ecological consequences, given the bird’s critical role in waste disposal and disease control.
Speaking to JollofNews, Gambia Armed Forces spokesperson Captain Kemo Kanuteh confirmed the two individuals are active-duty soldiers. “They have been identified and will be returned to Yundum Barracks, where they will be subject to internal military procedures pending the outcome of the police investigation,” he said.
Authorities have yet to disclose whether the men will face criminal charges, but environmental groups are calling for full accountability.
