Continuing our series dubbed “Profile of An NIA Agent”, we bring you the profile of Louis Gomez AKA Leese, the current Director of Operations at the NIA. A very powerful man within the bureaucracy of this entity that has made a name for itself enforcing the abuse orders from Yahya Jammeh, Leese has been implicated in many tortures, extortions, and cruelties inflicted by this terror outfit. Prisoner after prisoner have detailed the beatings and humiliations meted out on them – each instance exposing Leese as one of the chief culprits.
Looking at the agents that form the backbone of this terror machine, one cannot help but be baffled by the contrast between the mild mannered nature of these people growing up and their current attitude towards their own fellow citizens; even their own friends and former classmates. Many who knew these individuals before they started life in the security forces cannot reconcile the two personalities. One would have thought the trend is an aberration but there seems to be a consistent pattern among all the current members of The Gambia’s security forces – once good young men have turned into a mirror of their current boss, Yahya Jammeh – monsters. Louis Gomez is one such individual.
Leese is the son of Sang Gomez and Mariana Gomez, he was born in New Jeshwang area of Serekunda. He is 45 years old. He attended St. Theresa’s Primary School from where he proceeded to St. Peter’s High School. Married to Michele Badjie Gomez, a Prison Officer, the couple just celebrated their 8 year marriage this past April. The two and their kids used to live behind New Jeshwang Primary School commonly called Kandiba School (near the SDA School) until recently when they moved to Mariama Kunda.
His dad, Sang, was a well-known guitarist in the Jeshwang area, especially among the Manjago community. He played Manjago music entertaining crowds in New Jeshwang and Ebo Town neighborhoods.
Being a Roman Catholic, Leese’s current profile belies his church upbringing – he was literally a Choir boy. Growing up, he was very active in his Church and very well liked by the parishioners. When Faturadio reached out to one of those former members of the Church Leese attended as a child, he expressed shock and dismay at what had become of this once promising well behaved young man. “I just cannot believe that the Leese that we all used to know and love is the one being talked about in these evil schemes of deceit, extortion, torture, and humiliations” He said with a sad tone. Coincidentally, Leese came from the same neighborhood with the notorious Yankuba Badjie. Yanks will be the subject of our next “Profile of An NIA Agent.”
So just like Seedy Camara, Louis Gomez has lost his way, thanks to Yahya Jammeh. He has pretty much abandoned the mantra of compassion, love, and honesty that the Church and his humble family taught him. He now acts like a heartless beast with total impunity, and with seeming lack of any remorse. In the meantime, the countless victims of his are left to hope for justice one day, a day when he will face them in shame, ready (or not) to take the consequences of his actions. History will be the judge.
