Police have vowed to arrest and prosecute anyone found wanting of torturing suspected thieves.

In a statement on Monday, police said they have opened investigations into several videos they received.

Police said: “The Inspector General’s Office has opened investigations into several videos it received in connection to the matter.

“The Public is hereby informed that individuals found wanting of perpetrating torture against other individuals alleged of stealing will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the Gambia.”

Police have issued a statement over people taking the law into their hands when they effect citizen’s arrest on suspects.

Police said in a statement on Monday: “The office of the Inspector General of Police has learned with deep concern, videos circulating on the social media in which individuals are severely tortured for allegedly stealing properties belonging to others.

“This acts of mob justice, torture and degrading treatment are seriously condemned and  frown upon as they have no place in any civilised society.

“The Inspector General’s Office has opened investigations into several videos it received in connection to the matter.

“The Public is hereby informed that individuals found wanting of perpetrating torture against other individuals alleged of stealing will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the Gambia.

“While we understand and appreciate the concerns of victims of crime, members of the public are urged to remain calm, exercise maximum restraint and allow the due process of the law at all times.

“The public is further advised to report matters to the Police and other appropriate authorities for redress and never must they take the law into their own hands. The cooperation and understanding of the public is highly solicited.”

The Independent Electoral Commission has recognized Kebba Jallow as the leader of People’s Progressive Party.

PPP members have been at war among themselves since a disputed congress in February this year.

Touma Njai who stepped forward to contest against Kebba Jallow refused to take part in the election after she charged that the process was marred by fraud.

Later on, she complained to the IEC who later wrote to her that they could not interfere in internal party matters.

Yet, the IEC wrote to the clerk of the National Assembly on May 19 telling him it has recognized Kebba Jallow as the ‘official’ leader of PPP.

And Touma Njai sharing a copy of the letter said: “Did I not tell you there’s was more to it than meets the eye. This was sent by the IEC after they said it was an internal matter.

“They decided to take a decision ignoring the letters written by the regional chairpersons followed by a visit by all of them to the IEC office. How can we trust the IEC to Preside over an elections under these circumstances. See you in court.”

A Sudanese court sentenced to death on Monday a paramilitary officer charged with killing a demonstrator during a deadly breakup of a protest camp in the capital, Khartoum, two years ago.

The court ruled that the officer, Youssef Mohieldin al-Fiky, a major with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, rammed a protester with his car as security forces were dispersing a sit-in outside the military headquarters in June 2019.

The protester, Hanafy Abdel-Shakour, was one of over 120 people killed during the brutal crackdown on demonstrators in Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan that June. It followed two months after the military ousted then-President Omar al-Bashir amid a public uprising against his nearly three-decade autocratic rule.

Al-Fiky rammed his car into 22-year-old Abdel-Shakour, in Omdurman, a city adjacent to Khartoum, according to the state-run SUNA news agency. The report said the trial had started more than a year later, in July 2020, in Khartoum’s Judicial and Legal Science Institute. Judges held 26 hearings before their ruling on Monday. The verdict can be appealed before a higher court.

According to videos distributed on social media, dozens of people outside the courthouse cheered the court ruling. Abdel-Shakour’s family were also seen hugging each other and praying.

Since al-Bashir’s ouster, Sudan has since been on a fragile path to democracy and is ruled by a joint military-civilian government.

Monday’s ruling was the first of its kind. The 2019 breakup of the sit-in camp was a turning point in what had until then been relations between the military and the protesters.

Protesters had called for an international probe into the breakup, but an African Union-brokered agreement in August 2019 between the generals and the protesters said a local commission would investigate. The panel, however, repeatedly missed its deadlines for reporting, angering the victims’ families and protest groups.

Protesters accused the paramilitary force of leading the crackdown. The force grew out of the notorious janjaweed militias implicated in the Darfur conflict and is now part of the military.

A military-backed prosecutor said in 2019 that eight officers, including a major general, were charged with crimes against humanity in the crackdown. But there has been no word since of any being tried or detained. (AP)

State House has pushed back at reports Tuesday is a public holiday.

Reports have abounded of Tuesday being a public holiday in respect of Africa Liberation Day celebrations.

Former President Yahya Jammeh used to declare May 25th a public holiday in the country to mark the day but State House has indicated there is no public holiday for this year.

“It should be noted that 25 May is recognized as Africa Liberation Day in recognition of the struggles of the founding fathers to liberate the continent from colonial rule. To commemorate this day, Africans should redouble our efforts for the continent’s true political and socio-economic emancipation through hard work and commitment to nation building,” State House said in a statement.

The statement added: “Once again, let it be reiterated that Tuesday 25th May 2021 is not declared a public holiday in The Gambia and all public servants are expected to be at work.”

The mother of the complainant in the rape trial of Bubacarr Keita on Monday to testified that her daughter lived with her elder sister when the latter was married to her husband, Bubacarr Keita.

Businessman Keita’s rape trial resumed on Monday at the high court in Bundung before judge Momodou SM Jallow.

The mother of the complainant testified that her daughter was staying with her elder sister when the elder sister was married to Bubacarr Keita.

She then turned to the events that took place in the summer of 2019 when asked to explain it to the court in chronological order by prosecuting lawyer Alasan Jobe.

The businesswoman recalled: “At that time, my daughter [*Amie] was sick, she had a headache. She had frequent headaches. I got a call from the school that [*Amie] had a headache. I then called her sister and told her that [*Amie]… my elder sister’s child called me and said [*Amie] was having frequent headaches in school.

“I then told Sainabou that she should take her to the hospital. Sainabou took her to the hospital in Banjul where she was checked. When she came, I asked Sainabou what happened and Sainabou said she thinks it was malaria. She was given medicine and she took the medicine when she came home. She took the medicine for days, felt better and returned to school.

“When she went back to school, she had headache again after a few days. My sister’s child who sells at the school called me and asked me if [*Amie] told me her head disturbs her a lot and when it begins to ache, all of them would be over her to support her. Their French teacher later called me and told me I should consider taking her to a traditional healer.”

The case returns on June 1.

The people of Kanilai were out in the streets and in the balcony of their apartments as officials of the TRRC visited the village.

TRRC commissioners led by Dr Lamin J Sise on Friday visited Kanilai to search for mass graves and view other places such as the crocodile pond.

Dr Sise spoke on their visit today saying it went well and that the people of Kanilai showed their appreciate the mandate of the TRRC.

Dr Sise said: “There was no hostile reaction towards the visiting commissioners. Whatever happened in the past, it has not made us react towards each other with hostility.

“They were out in the streets and in the balconies of their apartments. They didn’t clap or cheer for the visiting team. I thought that was recognition for the mandate of this commission.”

UDP leader Ousainou Darboe on Sunday spent some time helping UDP market its upcoming fundraising event.

UDP supporters will be at the Independence Stadium next month in a huge musical event in a bid to shore up the party’s accounts amid an election year.

Darboe said Sunday while meeting with supporters from Kiang: “We are looking for money from Gambians. We want Gambians to support their party. Next month on the 19th, we will do a fundraising at the Independence Stadium.

“Before that we are selling tickets. There are tickets costing D300, there are the D2,000 ones too. But the D300 ticket is cheaper. If we all take out D300 and buy a ticket and the money goes to our party’s coffers will make it easier to run the party’s activities.

“I beg you all to support your party. With regard to this fundraising, we’re not excluding any imam, we’re not excluding any majlis owner. We want all to come on board. We want majlis owners to buy tickets for their students for them to come where when Jaliba sings they too can sing Islamic songs.”

By CGTN Africa

Nigeria’s top-ranking army commander Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru was laid to rest in the capital Abuja on Saturday, a day after he and 10 other officers died when their plane crashed in bad weather.

It was the third military air disaster this year and the army posted videos on social networks of the service attended by political and military leaders at the national mosque.

Army chief of staff Attahiru was only appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari last January in a shakeup of the senior command to better fight surging violence and a more than decade-long jihadist insurgency.

But the president, who offered his condolences just hours after the crash in the northern state of Kaduna, did not attend the funeral, an absence widely criticised on social media.

Police have dismissed reports at least two people have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery incident in Old Jeshwang.

The Bourgi family of Old Jeshwang has been reeling after men allegedly numbering at least 20 and armed allegedly forced their way into their home on May 15 and allegedly stole at least 16 million dalasis.

And reports abounded on Saturday that two of the suspects have been arrested by police and that a mobile phone belonging to the suspects was retrieved from the scene.

Police spokesman Lamin Njie however told The Fatu Network Sunday: “I have checked with our panel investigating d Bourgi matter and the whole info about arrest of suspects and details seems to be some fake news or false information.

“Investigators are following up on leads and the public will be adequately informed about outcomes.”

Nigeria’s army chief Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru died in a plane crash on Friday on an official visit to the northern state of Kaduna, which has had security challenges in recent months, three military sources told Reuters.

The air force said in a statement that its plane crashed near Kaduna airport and that it was investigating the immediate cause of the crash.

The crash comes three months after a small Nigerian air force passenger plane crashed just outside Abuja airport following alleged engine failure, killing all seven people on board.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the army general and his aides died when an air force plane crashed on Friday.

President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Attahiru alongside other military chiefs in January after years of mounting criticism over spreading violence by Islamist insurgents and armed gangs.

CA presidential candidate Dr Ismaila Ceesay said on Saturday the Operation Zero Crime campaign by police is a ‘makeshift’ rather than a permanent measure against crime.

Dr Ceesay said in a post on its official Facebook page: “’Operation Zero Crime’ unleashed by Police to curb rising crime is a makeshift rather than a permanent measure. Prison reform, investing in mental health, investing in young people (skills training and jobs), and initiating modern law enforcement operational strategies are key solutions for crime prevention.

“Crimes in the 21st century require 21st-century policing techniques to prevent and solve. Equally important, administering mob justice on alleged criminals indicates that citizens lack confidence in the criminal justice system.

This leads to a breakdown of authority with dangerous consequences. Law enforcement must be equipped, empowered, and trusted to maintain the Rule of Law.”

Police on Friday commenced a massive operation against crime, stopping cars and searching them and patrolling communities.

Hundreds of police officers were out on the streets Friday including their leader Abdoulie Sanyang amid concern of a growth in crime.

But on claims crime was rising in the country, the nation’s top policeman told The Fatu Network: “Actually if you look at our statistics, I was looking at the statistics this morning. We’re just in the first quarter, that means the first three months.

“If you look at last year’s crime in the first quarter, it is about seven or eight but in this first quarter, we only have four. Why people are complaining is because we have three murder cases like in three, four days. Like the one that happened in Mandinari, the one that happened at Jeshwang and the armed robbery at Jeshwang too.

“People can die. You may suspect foul play but we have to confirm whether it’s a murder case or it’s foul play. But as far as we are concerned, since the beginning of this year, we only have four murder cases. As far as the first quarter is concerned, compared to last year, it’s (crime) going down. We are out to take back the space.”

Former Gambian deputy ambassador to the United Nations Samsudeen Sarr has said he wants former President Yahya Jammeh to return to the country ‘today’.

“Even today, I want him to come back,” Mr Sarr told Giss Giss on Friday.

Mr Sarr recently met with President Adama Barrow where he proposed to the president to allow Jammeh to return to the country. The development sparked anger among some Gambians.

And when the issue of whether the former president who lives in exile in Equatorial Guinea should return to the country on Giss Giss, Sarr who strong supports the former president was emphatic in his view for the former president to return to the country and live as a statesman.

Police have announced arresting 56 people amid an operation targeting the Brufut and Madiana forest.

In a statement, police said: “The High Command of West Coast Region under the leadership of the Regional Police Commissioner, conducted a robust patrol at the Brufut and Madiana forest, amidst reports of criminal activities within and around the forest.

“The patrols were equally expanded to the coastal beaches and criminal hideouts leading to the arrest of 56 suspects currently helping with investigations.

“Majority of the suspects are non Gambians and as a result they are handed over to the Immigration Department for appropriate actions.”