(JollofNews) – A Gambian man who was Monday jailed in the US for his role in the 30 December 2014 ill-fated plot to overthrow the former Gambian regime of President Yahya Jammeh has issued a defiant message saying he had no regrets for his actions.
Alhaji Boye, 46, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was given a nine-month jail term by District Judge W. Earl Britt of the Eastern District of North Carolina, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to export defence articles (firearms) from the United States to the Gambia.
He will also be subjected to a three-year probation after his release.
But in a video message posted on his Facebook page shortly after the verdict, Mr Boye said he is not frightened at the thought of spending time in prison.
“I did what I did for the love of the Gambia,” he said.
“The Gambia is my home and the freedom of my country and people is worth going to prison for. The only thing I regret is the death of my colleagues such as Lamin Sanneh, [Alhagie] Jaja Nyass, Njaga Jagne and other victims of the Jammeh regime.”
The coup saga in the Gambia unfolded during the early hours of December 30, 2014 when a group of men belonging to the Gambia Freedom League entered the small West African nation with the expectation that others in the country would join and assist them to overthrow Mr Jammeh’s regime. But as they attempted to storm the presidential palace, they were met with heavy gunfire from security forces, squashing the coup, and killing Lamin Sanneh, Jaja Nyass, Njaga Jagne and Dawda Bojang.
Investigations by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and its partners on Joint Terrorism Task Forces in multiple field offices revealed that between August and October 2014, the men spent over US$200,000 on multiple firearms, including M4 semi-automatic rifles, night-vision goggles, body armor, ammunition, black military style uniform pants, boots, and other personal equipment which they shipped to the Gambia for use in the coup attempt.
Investigations also revealed that Mr Boye was given US$7,000 which he used to purchased two AK-47 style assault rifles, four Diamondback rifles as well as 7,000 rounds of ammunition, and 98 AK-47 magazines.
But reflecting on the outcome of the events, Mr Boye said: “I am not worried about going to prison. At least I will be able to see my family and will also be able to go to the Gambia after my time. But what about Njaga Jagne, Jaja Nyass, Lamin Sanneh and others who will never see their families again. These are the people we should be thinking about.”
Mr Boye added that him and his colleagues took up arms against Mr Jammeh’s regime to free the Gambia from tyranny and give Gambians the same freedoms they were enjoying in the west.
He said: “We never thought about ourselves. Our focus was whether we succeed or we die trying. Some of us paid the ultimate price. Yeah the turnout was not what we desired but today the Gambia is free and our families back home have regained their freedoms and can do and say whatever they want without the fear of arrest. We did our sacrifice for Gambia.”
Fall guy, USA should have jailed the person or persons that funded and recruited him.
We are doomed. We Gambian’s.
Adama barrow even church rat is more competant than him.
That man is a disappointment to the gambians .
We still have a long way to go. Darbo is not a man who should rule the Gambia. He is very greedy and selfish. I am a mandingka but his style of going in the country could led something bad for the country.
First of all where is the Gold west African troops captured in kalinglai. That alone can develop the Gambia. They all will dance to their tune.
Barrow is not fit for any purpose’s.
Jammeh is a bloated precarious sadist and an ingrate that plunged the country into chaos, deserving of imprisonment, the death penalty (I am against death penalty generally, but in Yahya’s case, will make an exeption, Allah forgive me) or exile, but a military coup! and to boot, justification of the act as a service of concience to our country. That is STUPID STUPID STUPID. This Boye guy is seriously an idiot. No wonder he was played like a feedle by the likes of the puppet master Njie. To kill gaurds and other innocent Gambians to dislodge Jammeh is a criminal act and it is wrong, it is not honorable, nor is it a service to Gambia. It is a selfish act to grab power by force and possibly continue where Jammeh left off. Ask the diaspora Gambians who sarcrificed much by speaking against Jammeh and ultimately bring down his government at the polls. That is service to Gambia. Did Pa Nderry buy guns or try to shoot anyone? NO. Did he with the power and tenacity of his online paper cause Jammeh angst? YES. Did he use disinformation to cause confusion, suspicion, distrust and implosion of Jammehs circle of influnce? YES. That is SMART SMART SMART. Don’t delude yourselves, I don’t agree with most of his utterances or style, but the guy is a hero in my book and a true Gambian. Mr Boye you are not, serve your time quietly.
I agree with the good Dr on Boye and the coup plotters. Mr. Njie also planned to be “Interim President” – not just boot out Jammeh.
On PA MBAI, the good Dr. says this:
“Did Pa Nderry buy guns or try to shoot anyone? NO. Did he with the power and tenacity of his online paper cause Jammeh angst? YES. Did he use disinformation to cause confusion, suspicion, distrust and implosion of Jammehs circle of influnce? YES. That is SMART SMART SMART. Don’t delude yourselves, I don’t agree with most of his utterances or style, but the guy is a hero in my book and a true Gambian.”.
Well, Good Dr, Pa Mbai is today using ” disinformation to cause confusion, suspicion, distrust” amongst the political actors in post-Jammeh Gambia. Pa’s methods have NOT changed – rather the “disinformation” has become more vicious. Good Dr, is that “SMART” in the post-Jammeh New Gambia?
No! Not smart and very unnecessary . I totally disagree with his post Jammeh activities .
Dr Isatou Sarr, are you in support of jammeh ?
No
Tolerance And The Need For Maturity Within The Current Regime’s “Leadership” And Militant Supporters of The UDP:
Halake, Dr. Sarr’s take on Pa Nderry is on point and right. UDP’S Adama Barrow, Ousainou Darbo and Mai Fatty and Madame F. Jallow Tambajang have in a very Short time Embarked on Several Unconstitutional, Undemocratic, Despotic, Ethnic Group Based Party Politics, Malfeasance and some might say, Treasonous Acts Against the Gambian People. For an Extensive List, Please See Pa Nderr’s Recent article or piece on the Matter. The Gang of three plus One, that is, Ousainou Darbo, Mai Fatty, Madame F. Jallow Tambajang and Adama Barrow, Acted with Malice and Bad Faith, Entered into an Agreement with other Leaders and Parties and Signed an MOU on their Own Volition and WILL; only to Violate the Same MOU when they Felt it has Served their UDP, and Individual Desires and Wants. Not on behave of the Gambia or I the Gambian People whom they like all Despots Claim to Represent. These are Not the Leadership qualities Gambians Need or even Desire. The Three Plus One Cabal have PROVEN that Gambian Political Maturity and especially the Leadership Deficit is Still Acute and Present among some Sections of the Gambian Society with Specific reference to Some Political Parties of Vigilantism, Mob Self-described Majority Ethnic Group Based Rule . Statistical Significance or Numerical Majority of an Ethnic Group does and should not be a Yard Stick of a Democratic Dispensation in any African Country especially, in the Gambia. Why? Simply, because Sheer Majority numbers do not Govern. Certain individuals or People with an Independent, but Down to Earth Personality, who can relate to People and with the Temperament and Humility of Tested Leadership Govern Not Rule. Leadership who govern, do so by Listening and Responding to the People’s Needs. While those who Rule, do so by Imposing and Spoon-feeding the Ruled with the Ruler’s Agendas with or without Consent of the Ruled. This is what the UDP Regime of Ousainou Darbo Mai Fatty, F. Jallow Tambajang and Adama Barrow Currently imposed on the Gambians and Gambia. Look around Africa, where a Majority Ethnic Group is in Power and Subscribes to Majority Rule by Default, instead of a Broad Based Consensus, the Success of the Government is either Non Existent or where it Succeeds, it happens through the Oppression and Subjugation of the rest of the other Ethnic Groups for the Benefit of the Few of the Majority Ethnic Group in Power. It usually does not last and ends in blood shed. Such leadership is not in many instances Endowed with the Requisite Political Leadership, such as Charisma and Temperament, nor the Ability to look Beyond the Short Term Gains or Goal. Such Leadership is Short sighted and dangerously I’ll equiped to be inclusive in Decision Making and Not Long Term Planners. They are Drunk with Majority Group Based Status which becomes a liability and therefore, a Recipe for Failure. Why? This is, because the Leadership of such Politicians have been Riced and Stewed, that is, Nutured and Raised up on a Diet of Entitlement and Grandiosity. Ofcoure, this is a gross generalization and connot be seen to fit or apply to all Individuals or Situations. However, on the whole, an in-depth analysis of such Politicians and Countries or Nation States in which they exist, would find my Thesis and or Hypothesis to be Statistically Significant. What has all these to do with the Case of Pa Nderry and the Undeserved and Malicious attack based on Ethnic Group Affinity “Fassaya”, Mandinka for “Taking sides” that is Pouring down from UDP’S LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORTERS. Everything. In the recent past, the same Mai Fatty, Ousainou Darbo, Adama Barrow, F. Jallow Tambajang, Max, Buba Sanyang, Natty Dread, Halake and other UDP SUPPORTERS AND MILITANTS WERE SINGING PRAISE SONGS AND KISDING THE WORDS IF NOT THE GROUND THAT PA NDERRY WALKS ON. NOW THAT THE SAME PA NDERRY IS A CONSTRUCTIVELY CRITICIZING THEM, The Paradoxical “Untouchables” of the Gambia, the UDP LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORTERS are up in Arms. Please. Simmer down. It is a False Narrative and Premise to Believe, Expect, and Hold any Individual to Perfection or more accurately, to think that he should always be Beholding to your Agenda and Cause no matter the prevailing Circumstances. That is the Ultimate Price of Naivete and Self-indulgence of the Self-ascribed and Appointed “Mansas” of the Current Era. In a nutshell, it is Dumb at the least and at worst Politically Dangerous and Immature in Thought and Action. Dangerous, because it allows such UNFIT Individuals who Seem Harmless to Ascend to Power and Reck Havoc on those they Deem or Classify as “Their Enemy” who should be Silenced with Maximum Prejudice. May Allah, God Forbid. Gambians who Stand for Accountability, Credibility, Due Process, Due Diligence, Against Malfeasance, Corrupt and Corruptive Practices; Should Coalesce Together and Unite Against this Malignant Force and Defeat it at the Ballot Box during the Upcoming April 2017 National Assembly Elections. Pa Nderry Deserves Our Support and Praise just like those who are not Emotionally and Financially Driven and by Naked Hatred, but by the Love and Patriotic favor of the Gambia and Gambians, for example, Madi Jobarteh Deserves Our Support and Praise. Special Support and Praise should be Reserved for Hon. Halifa Sallah, OJ, of PDOIS AND PPP respectively, and the Sons and Daughters of the Gambia across the World who Prayed and Worked for a Peaceful Change and Resolution to the Gambian Political Impasse, while those who would be “Mansa” and play “Mansaya” were risking other people’s lives for their Selfish Political Interest. These are the same Cabal, Gang or Crew who Absconded to Senegal when things Heated up in the Gambia during the Political Impasse. Leadership is Not Statistical Significant Numerical Majority. It is a recipe consisting of Balanced, Cool Under Pressure, Mature, Measured and Sympathetic Disposition. Flying off the Mouth and by any other means available to such Politicians’ and Without much thought or intropection can and is Dangerous for any leader, especially for one in a Country as Small and interelated as The Gambians and Gambia is. UDP’S LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORTERS Need to Reflect and Self-examine their Priorities and Do it Post haste. It is Eleven-fifty at Night and Time is Running Out for the Gambia and Gambians to get their “HOUSE” in Order. Tic, Toc, Tic, Toc. For Whom The Bells Toll, It May Be Tolling For Thee…. Gambia is more than the Sum Total of One Individual One Ethnic Group and Region. One Gambia, One People, One Destiny.
Tafel: “Dr Isatou Sarr, are you in support of jammeh ?”
Sir, please note that a minimal level of intelligence is required to participate in this forum. Dr. Sarr stated as follows BEFORE your question: Dr Isatou Sarr, MARCH 31, 2017 AT 2:59 PM “Jammeh is a bloated precarious sadist and an ingrate that plunged the country into chaos, deserving of imprisonment, the death penalty – I am against death penalty generally, but in Yahya’s case, will make an exeption”.
A Good Evening to you, Sir.
Hi Mr Boye, the heading of ur piece indicated you have no regrets. If this was written by yourself, it is really laughable. This is because it is clear in your own write up that you are indeed in very serious trouble n have numerous regrets which are clearly stated by yourself in very contradictory line /lines and be rest assured that you will live the rest of your life with these regrets. You mentioned your colleagues who died in the process of ur naive action and greed for power either by you or your sponsors. That you love your country but your actions spoke differently of your true intentions, you would probably know the old age saying that ‘actions speak louder than the voice’, for one who truly love his/her country for the shake of its population would not take an action that is sure to put lives (not just your intended target) but those of the population you so claim to love to risk. I have no authority to deny you the right to claim you love The Gambia, but you too cannot deny me the right to describe your type of love for Gambia as FAKE LOVE!!! This should be familiar to you or at least many sober readership of this paper that the word love is one of the most misused / bastardised words of our time, so your choice to use it in your defence only succeeded in highlighting your true nature to all Gambians and friends of Gambia here and away!
Mr Boye, FYI, the first right / freedom a people need is the right life or freedom to live a life! From your piece it is clear your action sadly has denied this basic right to those Gambians who lost their lives on that fateful day in December! How can you not regret this? If so you do not regret your actions, I would suggest to the new government to keep you on the radar as they might find themselves in the red pages of your diary for one reason or another! Remember The Gambia might by now divorce itself from your kind of love and when visiting next time remember your actions have made some orphans, some widows, some sonless others brotherless!
As a young man I feel for you going to spend time in jail but since you stated that you are not frightened going to spend time in jail, then, I wish you all the joy in jail!
In fact, as a terrorist he should have been extradited back to The Gambia and tried and sentenced, the USA was far to lenient on him, water board him, so he talks who his paymaster where, all sounds fishy to me.
Grim, I buy your point that he should have been sent back to Gambia, the land he loves to face the justice he will also have to love for the shake for the shake of Gambia, but yeah Gambia is a poor, country, no oil yet no previous minerals as yet, so whatever one does to the poor country can be claimed to be for the shake of freedom, human rights, rights of LGBTs, the list goes on, but you and many know if he did to his current host country what he did to Gambia/Gambians, the description and the accompanying punishment for his action would have been different! Hope Gambians or People of powerless countries can understand the push for a form of freedom, democracy, human rights etc that is not acceptable or tolerated even in the very countries advocating it! It’s sad!
Bambo, I do understand what you are saying but, this is the new Gambia, if President Barrow made a request to the USA for a terrorist I’m sure it would have been honoured, Borrow needs to show the world that he is more than capable of dealing with his internal affairs, it’s simple things like this, Which will build worldwide credibility and respect for Barrows, The Gambia and Africa. PS. Can someone tell me the original name for Africa before she was conquered by the Arabs please.
Bambo, also The Gambia is not poor, we have the strongest currency in Africa versus the £ $ € ¢ , I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong, many times the money markets tried to weaken the Dalasi by manipulating it but Yahya dealt with them hard LOL, if he did not, you would be now carrying a bag full of money just to buy bread, like what they done to Mugabe, did you know that the Nigerian currency use to be exactly £1 to one of their currency, but slowly they manipulated the price to what it is today so that over time they could buy the Nigerian oil cheaper and cheaper. Bambo as long as you have health you also have wealth, the trick is to convert from one to the other, health to wealth, these days one does not have to go to university to educate themselves, the internet is the new halls of learning, anything and everything you want to educate yourself with is there, read, read and read, after a while you will soon be able to tell sense from nonsense, here’s one to start with Google “how to become a millionaire”
You sound right,gambian people should start thinking properly and stop sort of nonsense, other part of the world they are moving very fast, technology and science,engineering and arts are growing field. Bottom line is education is the back bones of all these inventories. In order to have quality lives we must use our brains to make some critical answers to some difficult question.
Tafel, correct. also Google “mind control” learn there tricks on how the system controls people’s mind, the TV is the most powerful tool that they use, even more powerful than religion.
Grim, I understand where you are coming from and I wish the traffic flow in diplomacy is still two way rather than one way! However for US to extradite this guy will be a surprise to me, not because they can’t do it but because we do not necessarily matter much in serious US international affairs and besides, my second surprise will be to see the new government request for US to hand over someone who ‘says’ his intention was to take the former president out by force! Don’t be surprised if this guy happen to be celebrated by some Gambians who think or believe everything wrong in Gambia is the fault of the former regime. So many things in The Gambia should be properly placed especially our priorities as a nation and then there is the need to learn to objectively look at everything that makes The Gambia The Gambia or that can make everything in Gambia unGambian for the realisation of positive outcomes and not choose and select where we wish to be objective and subjective where we please by reorienting ourselves and complete honesty by many of us Gambians!