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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Jan 2008 : 18:31:51
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Violence Mars Rambo’s Victory
6 Injured, 3 Arrested
By Fabakary B. Ceesay
The family members of the newly elected councillor for Bakau, Ousman Jatta, alias Rambo, said their victory resulted in a violent confrontation that involved UDP sympathizers and their opponents. They said the brawl resulted in the arrest of three members of their family by the police and six sustained injuries. They alleged that as they were celebrating at around 10:00pm on the election night, stones started raining into their compound from the compound of a prominent APRC Member (name withheld).
They said they reported the matter to the police, but the police failed to take action.
They lamented on the arrests of three of their family members, namely Yama Fatty, Ebrima Jatta and Jai Bojang.
They said that the three were taken to Bakau police station but were immediately moved to Kairaba police station.
They said the arrests were carried out by two senior police officers, namely one Kemeta Sambou, officer commanding Kanifing Division and one Kanjura, with some PIU personnel in riot gears. They said six of them were injured and none of their adversaries was arrested in connection to it. They said those who sustained injuries
are; Nancy Cham, Mabintu Manjang,, Sulayman Jatta, Fudia Camara, Isatou Jawara, and Fatou Dibba . They alleged that dozens of stones dropped in their compound. Councillor Jatta explained that it was the intervention of the personnel of the Gambia National Guards that arrested the situation. He noted that he could not tell who called the GNG, but noted that their intervention was timely. He called on both parties to maintain calm for the sake of peace in their town.
According to honorable Kalipha Jammeh, he was informed by his relatives that members of a certain family (name withheld) that supports the UDP were celebrating their victory by throwing stones in their compound to provoke them. He also alleged that one of his relatives, one Modou Lamin Jammeh was hit by a stone on his shoulder and is still in agony. He added that most parts of the roofs of their houses were covered with stones. Mr. Jammeh also urged the people of Bakau to maintain peace.
On Friday 25 January, heavily armed soldiers and police in riot gears were seen patrolling the streets of Bakau. A group of police in riot gears were stationed in and outside Mr Kalipha Jammeh’s compound, while armed soldiers were stationed at all sides of Councillor Jatta’s compound. Both parties welcomed the presence of the security to keep the peace.
When contacted, the Police Spokesperson, Inspector Sulayman Secka could not confirm the arrest of the three family members. He said that he has been making frantic efforts to confirm the said incident but because of the weekend he could not speak to the officials in charge of the said stations.
However, the family members of the arrested supporters confirmed the release of the three.
They said that they are not aware of any charge made against their relatives but that they were asked to report to the police station today.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 12/2008, 28 – 29 January 2008
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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