By Danjuma Aliyu, DENISAURUS News

The son of Gambia’s President-elect Adama Barrow has died after being bitten by a dog.

Habibu, 8, one of Mr Barrow’s five children, died on the way to hospital on Sunday after being bitten by a dog the previous evening near the capital Banjul, according to the BBC and postings by Gambians on Twitter.

Mr Barrow was unable to return for his son’s funeral, which took place almost immediately, as required by Islamic rite.

The President-elect who defeated President Yahya Jammeh at the poll could not attend the funeral of his son, as he has been advised by the regional body Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS to remain in Senegal for his safety.

President Jammeh’s tenure expires on Thursday, 19, January, 2017 but he has pledged to hang on to power after then.