(JollofNews) – Authorities in the Gambia are examining the human remains exhumed on Thursday believed to be that of Solo Sandeng, organising secretary of the United Democratic Party (UDP).
Mr Sandeng was killed while being detained at the National Intelligence Agency’s (NIA) headquarters in April 2016 shortly after he was arrested for leading a protest against the former Gambian regime of Yahya Jammeh.
Sheikh Omar Jeng, NIA’s director of Operation at the time, said he died during “the process of his arrest and detention”.
But a death certificate issued at the Emergency Unit of Serrekunda Hospital and signed on behalf of one Dr Lamin Sanyang said, he died from dyspnea [difficult or laboured breathing], shock and respiratory failure.
Although the Jammeh regime had admitted his dead, which it said occurred while he was being interrogated, it has refused to return his remains to his family for burial.
However, since the demise of the Jammeh regime in January, police were force to reopen the case resulting in the arrest of senior security officials.
Police spokesman Foday Conta told local journalists that they were able to locate the remains somewhere near Tanji village, Kombo South based on the statements of the detainees
He said the body will undergo forensic examination at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul.
It is not yet clear how exactly Mr Sandeng died. But his fellow detainees said he was subjected to hours of severe torture including beatings and kicking by security officers wearing black balaclava and gloves.
According to court documents signed by Nogoi Njie, Mr Sandeng was bleeding all over his body and was in severe pain the last time she saw him at the NIA headquarters.
“While I was sat in a room after I was mercilessly beaten by the men, Solo Sandeng was brought in. The men have already beaten him and his body was all swollen and he was in severe pain,” she said in an affidavit.
“I then asked him to come close to me away from the urine area where he was dumped. When he got to me, he laid flat on the floor and I began to massage his head and body. He was bleeding all over. He then started to sleep and I sat up.”
She added: “A few minutes later, the cell door was opened and some men walked in and took Solo away. I later heard him screaming. Later while the men were taking me for interrogations, I saw Solo’s body on the grass next to a table. He was stripped stark naked and was bleeding profusely. He was groaning in pain and could hardly move his head. After I was subjected to more beatings in the courtyard, I saw the security officers dragged Solo’s body behind a building where he was again subjected to more beatings and I could hear him groaning.”
Some guys are in the media championing yahya jammeh past achievement of development and so on. The matter of fact is human life and human rights weight more than whatever development you want to call it. If yahya jammeh cannot score on human life, human rights then the entire achievement of development is useless. Human lives matters.
100% Tafel. Even the legacy of Africa’s biggest developer, Gadaffi, went up in flames. No one has praised Jammeh’s development projects more that me – but he deserves only condemnation as a mass murderer.
Can’t say it better Tafel. Guys who try to champion Yaya Jammeh’s past achievements are mere samples of the woeful human characters of our Gambian society. It shouldn’t be a doubt to anyone that they could have committed the same atrocities in Jammeh’s shoe.
I think the extradition process of Jammeh’s and cohorts should have start by now. Justice delayed is justice denied.
The Gambian govt must move swiftly and prosecute those responsible for this senseless murder. Those hiding in self imposed exile, all those who aided them and those who new and conspired with Solo’s killers should also be called to answer.
The govt should immediately seize and escrow all assets belonging to these men and women so that Solo’s family may in future go after them in civil suit.
The Doctor should be prosecuted and stroke off the medical register for falsifying medical records.
Shocking, Murderous, Merciless Devils.
I despair of humanity.
Gambian shame !!!
correction: struck off the medical register.
I don’t wish to use this occasion for propaganda purpose. The exhumation of SOLO’S body is a reminder -once again- that it is the boldness and sacrifice of some committed fellow citizens that enabled us to overcome fear and stood up against thuggery. Their stand served as catalyst for us to say enough is enough and to close ranks. More importantly, their action unmasked the terrible person hiding behind the dubious socalled magnanimous Jammeh facade. This is quite important because the gruesome killing of SOLO and the ensuing collective defiance showcased to the people the real troubled persona behind that overflowing kaftan. The Gambian have come to see the real enemy thanks to SOLO-SYMBOLIZING the countless victims of crimes committed by Yahya Jammeh. There will be no forgetting or forgiving.
Tafel I would like to know what these people are calling development because our hospitals, education system, the economy have all performed very poorly under Yaya Jammeh’s dictatorship. White elephant projects cannot be called development. Prices of basic commodities have gone up quite considerably in the past 20 years. What helped many Gambian families is the remittance sent by Gambians abroad. Many of the beautiful buildings are built by these people I mentioned and businesses. Yaya Jammeh developed himself and few others and not Gambia.
Janjan1 you have hit the nail on the head. It’s good to know that we still have decent Gambians like yourself who can see through this so call developments. Like you said Jammeh developed only himself not the Gambia. Though some people close to him have done well out of his scam.