By Sarjo Brito
It was supposed to be a normal school day for every Gambian student, but tragedy took its turn and 14 Gambian children were gunned to death by security officers, and others left with severe injuries.
For Sainey Senghore, the memories of the horror that happened remain fresh. Like all victims of April 10/11, Senhgore took to the streets to fight for justice after the beating to death of secondary school student Ebrima Barry by firefighters, and the rape of a 13-year-old girl by a security officer.
The Niumi native was shot on his right leg, right above his knee, leading to an even bigger nightmare – an amputation. Leaving his hopes and dreams shattered.
“I was 17 then and I was attending Essau Senior Secondary School. I was out to fight a worthy cause. I was simply out to tell our then government that the school was supposed to be a safe place, that female students should be respected and not raped by those who should uphold the law, and that perpetrators of these heinous crimes should be brought to justice.”
Twenty years on, justice still hasn’t been served and the perpetrators continue to walk freely after the former government indemnified their actions in 2001.
“We have suffered for 20 long years. Do not let our sacrifice go in vain by denying us justice. It is time for justice to take its course so that potential perpetrators will not feel immune from the consequences of their actions.”
