Jammeh Killed Deyda Hydara!!!!

….Former Point Senior Staff Reporter Pays Tribute To A Fallen “ Gambian Hero” Deyda Hydara!!!

“Deyda and myself exchanged notes. We enjoyed brotherly and professional relationship. Hydara  introduced me to well placed sources, who used to supply us with authentic documents about the Youth Development Enterprise saga and the Central Bank missing millions scandal. I remember the then IGP Landing 13 Badjie, challenging the Point to help him with his investigations if we are privy to any information about the Central Bank missing millions saga. Our stories led to the arrest of Lang Conteh, Baba Jobe and Central Bank staff.”Writes Editor Pa Nderry M’Bai

From The Freedom Newspaper Achieves: Posted on Saturday, December 20, 2008 (Archive on Wednesday, January 28, 2009)
Posted by PNMBAI  Contributed by PNMBAI

It was on December 16TH 2004, when Yahya Jammeh decided to end the life of Gambia’s most acclaimed journalist Deyda Hydara. Hydara was killed by Jammeh’s agents. His only perceived crime, was for having the audacity to speak against social injustices, impunity and lawlessness. In Jammeh’s own evil world, journalists like Hydara deserve to die prematurely. He went ahead to take the life of Deyda, leaving two female editorial staff of the Point brutally injured. Both Nyan Jobe and Ida Jagne, my good friend typist were flown to Dakar for emergency treatment.

As a reporter, who specializes on penning lead stories for the Point, my editorial task was very demanding so to speak. In that, I have to get all the facts before close of business. Some of my sources occupied top positions in Government and would only speak to me after they closed from work.

I developed professional trust with my sources. They are always comfortable to talk to me on issues retarding Governance and development in The Gambia. I must add that most of the controversial headline stories, I penned at the time, while at the Point were supplied to me by these dependable and patriotic sources.

Staying late in the office was not something new to me. I patiently wait for my sources to report back to me after work. As soon as my cellular phone rings, DH would say "Pa Nderry go to my office to avoid the noise." He knew who the callers were. Deyda and myself exchanged notes. We enjoyed brotherly and professional relationship. Hydara  introduced me to well placed sources, who used to supply us with authentic documents about the Youth Development Enterprise saga and the Central Bank missing millions scandal. I remember the then IGP Landing 13 Badjie, challenging the Point to help him with his investigations if we are privy to any information about the Central Bank missing millions saga. Our stories led to the arrest of Lang Conteh, Baba Jobe and Central Bank staff.  

While I do not want to speculate the reasons behind the killing of Hydara, I must add that the Point during our watch, succeeded in exposing the corrupt and despotic nature of the Jammeh Government. Perhaps, our graft revelations against Jammeh and Government officials might have  angered the President to take Hydara’s life.

The point was a hot cake during the period of 2002 to July of 2004.  People scramble for the paper each morning at the Westfield junction, just to read the paper’s  in-dept and captivating headline stories. Some readers would even walk into our Garbajahumpa road offices to request for papers. Many a time, my own staff copy was sold out or given to loyal readers “free of charge.” I resort to reading the file copies. I go home without a paper that day.

The Point posed as a great threat to the Daily Observer, despite all the resources at their disposal. Observer’s circulation dropped significantly, as readers stopped buying the paper. Many advertisers prefer to advertise with the Point, since the paper was widely read.

The Point was highly respected by the Diplomatic Community. I can vividly remember the US Consular's remarks about the Point, when I showed up at the American Embassy for my visa interview. The Consular spoke high of the paper's journalistic quality. " You are Pa Nderry.... I have been reading a lot of your stories in the Point. Matter of fact, I have a copy of your paper before my desk." the Consular officer tells me. We talked about my VOA job among other things, before the Visa was issued to me.

On the day in question, I authored a lead story, in which UDP'S Femi Peters lambasted the Jammeh Government for its lack of accountability, regarding the crude oil gift that was extended to the impoverished nation of The Gambia, by the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Peters accuses the Government of denying poor Gambians such funds to the expense of greed and personal aggrandizement.

My old good friend Pap Saine and his assistant Saul Njie played a vital role towards attracting more advertisers for the paper. The Point was very viable and enterprising media outlet. Kassa Taal too was another foot soldier for the Point. Taal worked very hard for the paper, we today call Deyda/Pap's paper. This I can attest to.

Due to the high volume of advertisement, we were advised to keep our news stories brief and comprehensive, with the exception of lead stories. The late DH never joked with front page stories. He used to advise me to take my time and write detailed reports. DH would impose  a civilized “ curfew” at the Point by asking layout editors and typists to stay and wait for the lead story writer  Pa Nderry M’Bai. My good friend Ida Jagne would smile as soon as I emerged into the office, but with emphasis that I need to hurry up. That they want to go home. DH would in response teased Ida by telling her to  calm down.

A very caring father, Hydara treats us as his own family. He fed us on a daily basis. The Point was like our home. We eat and relax at the paper. I must say that Hydara used to give me a lot of money to cover stories for the paper. Pap Saine too was also very supportive, when it comes to facilitating  the work of reporters. Despite our personal disagreements, I am obliged to speak the truth, because these are the true qualities of Saine.

Having said that, I must add that the Point was on the road to full blown financial success, when Jammeh ordered for Hydara’s killing. The paper’s bank accounts were healthy, while many Gambians developed to love the paper, including Government supporters.

For the Government to claim that Hydara was living in a “ financial uncertainty” prior to his killing is a fat LIE. Hydara was a successful newspaper owner. I was not aware of Hydara being indebted to any Gambian. The Government can prove me wrong if they have any information to substantiate their claims.

Deyda was like a father to me. He was very concern about my personal safety as a journalist. In one of my arrest, he was hospitalized, but yet Deyda expressed solidarity with me. He wrote on numerous occasions on the pages of the Point, calling on state security agents to cease their harassment campaign directed at me. Look out for part two of my tribute to the late Deyda Hydara.