a shopkeeper attacked, strangled and saved at the last minute in front of her 5-year-old daughter

In a chilling story published by L’Observateur, the tragedy that occurred on November 17, 2024 in Saly Niakh-Niakhal reveals the horrors of urban violence. Mame Codou Cissé, a local shopkeeper, narrowly escaped a savage attack orchestrated by Chérif Fall, a criminal determined to rob her, even if it meant killing her in front of her 5-year-old daughter. A brutal attack in the quiet of the morning. 9 a.m. this Friday when Mame Codou Cissé finishes cleaning her shop. The peaceful morning turns into a nightmare with the irruption of Chérif Fall, holding a pair of scissors in his hand. The latter, in a threatening tone and insults, demands that the shopkeeper give him his money. But, having only 2500 FCFA in his pocket after opening his shop, the victim tries to negotiate with his attacker. The tension rises a notch when Chérif Fall, convinced that she is hiding other sums, turns the shop upside down. above below. Mad with rage, he physically attacked the young woman, knocking her to the ground, before savagely strangling her in front of her crying little daughter. The heartbreaking cries of Mame Codou Cissé do not stop her tormentor, who is about to stick a pair of scissors to her throat. A providential intervention The drama takes an unexpected turn thanks to the intervention of the passengers of a “Tata” bus which stops right in front of the store to allow travelers to disembark. A woman who witnessed the scene screamed in alarm, attracting local residents. Panicked, Chérif Fall hastily grabbed the victim’s personal effects: a wig, a cell phone and a gold chain. He tries to flee, but his escape is cut short. A handful of men catch up with him, recover the stolen goods and deliver him to the Saly Portudal police. A confused account and a shaky defense before the Mbour high court, Chérif Fall denies the accusations against him, despite the evidence irrefutable evidence presented by the civil party. But his subsequent confessions betray his despair: he confides having lost all his savings in a plan for illegal emigration and having acted under the influence of frustration. His intention? Obtain the money needed to reach Touba. A double-edged verdict for the public prosecutor, the guilt of Chérif Fall is final. He requires three years in prison. However, the court, taking into account his late confession, sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment, a verdict greeted with a mixture of relief and apprehension by the victim’s relatives. An indelible trauma as L’Observateur points out, this attack leaves profound after-effects, both on Mame Codou Cissé and on her little daughter, witnesses of a scene of rare violence. This tragic event reminds us of the importance of strengthening the security of peri-urban areas, which are often vulnerable to the escalation of violent attacks. In Saly, where peace seems forever shattered, this barbaric act marks a dark chapter in the annals of insecurity.