President Adama Barrow has used his Eidul Fitr message to address the Sanyang incident expressing alarm the nation’s youth could take the law into their own hands and burn down a police station.
The president said in his Eid statement on Wednesday: “I cannot fail to seize this opportunity to address some pressing national issues of security and public safety. As we all know, peace and stability form the bedrock for development. It is regretted, therefore, that there have been disturbing reports of domestic violence in our communities and criminal acts of drug abuse, theft, destruction of property and other forms of crimes.
“These crimes pose a threat to peace and stability, and can hamper our development efforts. The incident reported in Sanyang is a case in point. It is alarming that Gambian youths can take the law into their own hands to the extent of destroying a police station, looting businesses and displacing law-abiding persons who had amicably integrated themselves into the Gambian community.
The impact of that incident affected the lives of a whole community. It dislodged people who had investments in the country and were peacefully earning their livelihoods in the area.
“I am also aware of cases of domestic violence, leading to the death of two young persons in one instance. Crimes that were unknown in the country, such as kidnapping and daylight robbery, are gradually becoming common news headlines. Yet, the TRRC has been set up for reparation and reconciliation, as reflected in their ‘never again’ slogan. There are legal ways of expressing our views or taking action against any offence or perceived injustice, and they are meant to be followed.”
