One Pa Sarjo Jallow, an employee of Brikama forest park in the Western Region was on Sunday morning severely attacked by an unidentified young man, causing serious wounds on his neck and forehead.

According to Mr Jallow, while he was carrying out his normal work in the forest at about 11:00am on Sunday, the young man he did not know, appeared demanding money from him and he replied that he has only D20 which he immediately pulled out from his pocket and gave to him. "The man then pulled out a cutlass wanting to put his hand in my pocket which I insisted and as a result, the man hit me with the cutlass on my neck and forehead" he said.

The forestry staff further narrated that during the fight, he was able to held the man and shouted for help and as a result people from the nearby village of Jalamba came over and helped him arrest the man who was later escorted to Brikama police station.

Mr Jatto Sillah, director of the forestry department who was also present at the scene described the incident as inhuman. "Looking at the age of this man, if a young man could launched such an attack on him, then it is terrible, because I belief the old man have children who can be of the same age with this man. We don't need this kind of people in our society.

The Gambia is well known for peace and we want that peace to continue to prevail" he said.  According to Sillah, the old man is a pioneer of Nyambai forest and is among the first people to plant Gmaline trees in that forest way back in 1960's.

He then warned all those attacking their staff at the forest park to desist from such act. He commended his staff for their quick response and the officers of Brikama police station for a job well done.

Our reporter who visited Brikama Health Centre where the attacked old man was admitted, said the health centre and the police station was over crowded with the family members, staff of forestry department, sympatiser and onlookers.