By Lamin Sanyang
The government of President Adama Barrow has still remained silent on former President Jammeh’s alleged properties after taking office for almost two months now.
The new government has so far not issued any statements to shed light on the state or former President Jammeh’s “private” owned properties feeding into rumors circulating about what became of them. Former President, Jammeh was a serial land grabber, which was so pervasive, Gambians could at some point not distinguish what belonged to him and what belonged to the state – a distinction he was never willing to make.
So when he (Jammeh) was forced out by ECOWAS and hurriedly flown to Equatorial Guinea after losing the elections to current president, Adama Barrow, speculations and rumors started to spread even alluding to people laying claim to those lands without any proof of ownership.
The alleged properties of The Gambia’s exiled former dictator in Farato Farm are secured by soldiers of The Gambia Armed Forces who are acting as guards. The soldiers are guarding the place around the clock with guns. It is not clear whether the properties belong to the state as the soldiers are paid by the taxpayers or belong to former exiled president.
Jammeh built a multimillion dollar animal farm at Farato Village. Sources say he reared crossbreed animals from different countries over there. The property is situated on the Highway closed to Nyambai Forest.
Lieutenant Colonel Lamin B Bojang, Spokesperson of The Gambia Armed Forces, when contacted, said he could not ascertain whether the properties belong to the state or dictator Jammeh. He could not explained the reason why soldiers are guarding the places. He promised to find out but until going to press, he didn’t get back us.
Jammeh has another property close to The Gambia Groundnut Cooperation (GGC) also known as ‘Saroo’ in Banjul. There too, paramilitary officers were securing the place as guards but have reportedly been removed from the place.
In fact, the former president allegedly ‘owned’ several properties throughout the country including the central Abattoir in Abuko, Sifoe Farm and Kanilai Farm amongst others. It is alleged that some of these properties were forcefully taken from people.
The properties in his native village of Kanilai were abandoned without security guards except for a handful of youths who are guarding the place. The state has withdrawn its security forces without actually stating the ownership of the properties. It has left the place exposed to all kind of threats.
The Sifoe Farm is situated between the villages of Kitty and Sifoe in the Kombo Central District. The two villages have disputed over the ownership of the land before it was illegally taken by the former dictator. It is one of the biggest lands seized from the villagers.
Security sources inside The Gambia Armed Forces have revealed that the former exiled president’s properties are under the watched of two senior military officers. They are Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Jatta and Major Gibril Jammeh. It is not clear whether the two officers were assigned by the state or by former dictator, Yahya Jammeh.
There are reports of several state vehicles going missing during the political impasse. The police have issued a press release asking the public to returned the said vehicles, urging compliance of the law.
Meanwhile, ASP Foday Conta, Police Spokesperson confirmed the return of some vehicles but said there are still others out there.
