“POLICE ACCUSED OF MALTREATMENT, DETENTION” – FOROYAA NEWSPAPER
The Gambia Police Force is appalled at the above sensational caption of a story published on the Monday 18 December 2017 edition of the FOROYAA newspaper. The caption is not only misleading but the story is not a true reflection of what exactly happened.
It is worth noting that the police have a responsibility to protect lives and property and maintain law and order. Furthermore, we must be cognizant that all individuals have rights but those rights cannot be enjoyed to the point of infringing the rights of others.
THE STORY: On Thursday 14 December 2017, Karamo Marong a 67 years old Gambian, walked into the Sukuta Police Post and reported that four years ago he bought a plot of land from one Kebba Khan of Sukuta for which he has all the necessary documents.
He indicated that he had started work on the said plot and was digging the foundation for construction when youths of the area attacked the workers who fled the scene leaving their tools behind. Mr. Saidy added that the said youths destroyed the windscreen of the caterpillar that was being used to level the ground, destroyed the foundation, burnt wheel tires on the road and took away spades and pickaxes belonging to the workers.
The Assistant Station Officer intimated on the complainant that considering that the accused were youths and were many, he should bear with them until the following day when he can get reinforcement in order to conduct arrests. The delay and need for reinforcement was due to the fact that residents of the area are uncooperative with the police and often resist arrests and in some cases assaulted police officers; on 19 August, 2017 two police officers were stabbed while carrying out their duties.
On Friday 15 December, 2017 Abdoulie Ceesay also visited the Brusubi Police Post and reported that the youths in Sukuta Bahamas had lit wheel tires on the road which prevented him from accessing his compound.
The Assistant Station Officer deployed CID officers to the area to conduct surveillance and report accordingly. That same night, with reinforcement available, the police conducted a swoop and arrested Muhammed Mballow aged 27, Yankuba Fatty aged 30, Buly Saidy aged 35, Ebrima Mballow aged 17, Ebrima Mballow (who sustained injury) and Afusainey Saidy reported to the station himself.
Ebrima had tried to evade arrest and the police pursued him and it was in that process that he fell and sustained a head injury.
Due the fact that Sukuta Police post did not have the capacity to handle the case, the suspects were taken to Brusubi Police Station where they were cautioned and charged on two counts: Willful Damage to property and Seizure.
Meanwhile, Ebrima Mballow was escorted to the clinic for treatment.
The following morning, a large group of community members stormed the police station were they made a lot of noise in a clear attempt to obstruct police work.
It must be noted that such action by community members of the area is common. It is regretful that FOROYAA which prides itself for being a champion of truth and fairness failed to portray this story in its true light but instead harped it on alleged maltreatment by the police.
The story fails to acknowledge the fact that the youths committed an offence by taking the law into their hands and should be held accountable for it. FOROYAA also failed in its responsibility to educate the people on what is right and wrong so as to maintain law and order.
As a matter of fact, the story line emboldens the youths to feel heroic and that could serve as an encouragement for others to behave same.
The Gambia Police Force commends the efforts of its personnel in Sukuta and Brusubi for its efforts in carrying out their work with professionalism despite the unfriendly and hazardous conditions in which they work.
Their gallantry may not have been unrecognized in the story but the people who understand the value peace and shun criminality are appreciative of their efforts.
As the body responsible for law enforcement, the Gambia Police Force will remain committed in carrying out its duty with respect of the rights of all.
The Gambia Police Force calls on members of the public to be law abiding and urge them to report all complaints to the police rather take the law into their own hands.
