Abubakary Jawara and his brother Haji who is Gambia’s consul general in Angola were received by police operations commander Landing Bojang at Sanyang Police Station ahead of the businessman’s plan to rebuild the destroyed police station.
The people of Sanyang reached out to Jawara after the police station was set on fire on Monday amid violent protests that rocked Sanyang. The top businessman then volunteered to build back the facility.
“I’m the one that contacted Jawara that we had a sad incident that happened in our community. [That] the police station was burnt to ashes and we’re seeking for help. He told me he will personally take the responsibility to take care of the station,” Lamin Jabang village development committee chairman told reporters as Jawara toured the police compound.
Speaking to reporters, Jawara said helping law enforcement was in the DNA of his family since it started with his father.
“This isn’t the first time we’re doing something like this. If you look at Bakadaji police station, it was my father who used to pay the rent for more 20 years before the building of a new police station,” Jawara said.
He then said: “We also recently built the PIU station in Basse, it’s already finish and just to hand it over to the PIU. We wanted to hand it over this Saturday coming but the IGP passed away. So this is not new for us.
“We just came to sympathise with the community, to see what we can do. That’s why we will build this police station and we’re going to furnish it, with computers and everything. The youth should listen to the elders and maintain peace and stability. Without stability, you cannot do anything.”
Police commissioner of operations Landing Bojang speaking to reporters said Jawara had been a longstanding partner of the police.
“My Jawara’s long been our partner. In Basse, he’s creating an accommodation for the police and elsewhere. Maybe the people of Sanyang will think this is the first time but he’s long been doing [things] for the police. Gambians should come and emulate him,” Bojang said.
Jawara’s elder brother Haji also spoke to reporters where he asked Gambians to respect law enforcement officers.
“We should respect our police and our government. You cannot come to a police station and set it on fire and run away. That’s bad attitude. My sympathies to the family of the man who passed away Gibril Ceesay and may he rest in peace. We are all Gambians, one nation,” the older Jawara said.
Jawara was in Sanyang together with the contractor over a project that will cost 2.2 million dalasis. The Jawaras also gave D15,000 to the family of the slain Gibril Ceesay.
