Edward Singhatey, Yankuba Touray, MJ Badjie, Others Arrested

By Boy Badjie, Freedom Newspaper Contributor, Banjul

Edward David Singhatey, and Yankuba Touray hav been arrested, this paper can reveal. Both men served as Council members in the defunct AFPRC regime. A  top NIA official who spoke to us  said the detainees are safe and well. The official said the detainees were divided into different categories. There is what he called civilian, and military detainees. The official said the military interrogates their own men before handing them over to the NIA. 

The official said that Touray, and Singhatey were with the military intelligence command. The same NIA operatives confirmed that Major Modou Lamin Badjie was being detained in their offices, including General Tamba. 

Badjie was being grilled over a letter purportedly  written by Kouki Samba Sanyang, who was alleged to have the backing of the Wade administration to dislodge Jammeh from power. Dakar has not reacted to such wild accusations coming from Banjul yet. The said letter has been serialized by the Daily Observer without soliciting reaction from the Wade administration.

Our source said Yankuba Touray was arrested on his way to Badibou. It is not clear if he was trying to abscond, but sources said he was stopped by the arresting team, and escorted to Banjul.

Close to 6o people have been arrested.  The state is yet to file any charges against the detainees. It has been gathered that the President has given instructions to the security forces to keep the detainees until after the Muslim feast Tabaski. Some of the detainees are likely to be released, while others might stand trial on treason charges.

In another development, the demoted army colonel Kawsu Camara, who was fired this week has been rearrested. Camara is reported to be insane and has been openly talking about the atrocities he has carried out on behalf of the President. Sources said Bombaman was injected by doctors in a bid to curtail his endless talking spree, which is seemingly exposing the dirty leans of the Presidency.

In a related Gambian news, this paper has gathered that President Jammeh has been traveling  via Bintang through a speed boat each time he reports to work in Banjul or Kanilai.

“ He employs decoy these days to test the security waters. Many a time you would  see his convoy on  the Banjul Kanilai highway, but Jammeh will not be onboard his official car. He is doing this to confuse people. He travels by boat these days. This I can confirm to you,” said my source.

Our source said the President received an intelligence about an imminent attack, but does not have any clue about who are behind the said attack. The source said one of the reasons why Jammeh is traveling via Bintang was due to the looming security threat.

The source said the President is increasingly worried about his personal safety, and that of his family. He repeatedly insults service chiefs during national security meetings. The President, I was told has lost confidence in the country’s security agencies-most importantly the NIA. 

The Presidently is gradually running out of security. The majority of his well trusted confidants,  have either been jailed or sacked from the army.  He is apparently confused, and dejected. Jammeh's future is unpredictable, sources here said.