Press Release
The Brikama Area Council representing the biggest and most populous region of The Gambia, being the West Coast Region, condemns police brutality, abuse of police powers, unconstitutional, unlawful and abuse of the basic human rights of its elected councillor, in the person of Abdoulie Jammeh, the councillor for Brufut Ward.
The Gambia Police Force acting with impunity have detained, Hon. Abdoulie Jammeh, at Police HQ in Banjul tonight, 1st February 2024, on the pretext of revoking his police bail. That bail was granted to Hon. Jammeh on 7th December 2023 after 72hrs detention at the Police Anti Crime Unit at Banjulinding from 5th December 2023!
Thus his further detention tonight will mark more than 96hrs of pre-trial detention of Hon. Jammeh in hands of the Gambia police force. His detention today further came on the foot-heels of almost 2 months of draconian bail conditions of daily reporting at Police Headquarters in Banjul.
All these abuses are for offences, which related to misdemeanour offences of damage to council property and conspiracy to commit felony regarding a council property, which belongs to the very council Hon. Jammeh is a member of. They further claimed that he has made utterances in a council sitting, which is protected speech in a privileged chamber that the law clearly stated cannot be questioned anywhere.
It is further worth noting that on the 4th of December 2023 whilst claiming to be looking for Hon. Abdoulie Jammeh, the Gambia police force went to Hon. Jammeh’s compound in Brufut, when they could not locate him, they unlawfully arrested his brother and detained him for almost 24 hrs, as a ransom for his surrender.
This is completely unacceptable and barbarically, which the Brikama Area Council representing the people of West Coast Region condemns as unprofessional, unconstitutional, draconian and abuse of police powers by the top echelons of the Gambia Police Force. Starting from the IGP, who is leading the abuse, followed by Pa Alieu Jawara, etc. This abuse must end and end now! Let our honourable member return home to serve his people as he is elected to do. Respect the rule of law and good governance of this nation.
