Gambian Coup Detainees Massacred—State House Insider Explains!!!

Chilling Details Of torture, death threats, and poisoning

Amnesty International, Others Asked To Visit Gambia

By Staff Reporter Modou Barry, Banjul

A highly placed source close to the State House in Banjul is calling on the Amnesty International, and other rights groups around the world to embark on a fact-finding mission to  The Gambia, to document what our source referred to as the recent “torture” of security detainees—notably the erstwhile Army Chief of Staff General Lang Tombong Tamba. The source who is very familiar with the case of General Tamba and co said “ it is sad, and unfortunate that Gambian soldiers can expose their fellow colleagues into such  a systematic torture, and physical abuse.

The source said some of the detainees are likely to die due to complications they suffered during the torture sessions. The detainees were denied food, and in some occasions threatened with mass executions—as armed  totting soldiers fired shots in the air, said the State House insider.

Giving a firsthand account about how his colleagues were brutalized by the trigger happy soldiers, the State House insider said General Tamba and co were asked to make their last prayers before execution, as soldiers sealed their faces with plastic bags, and stocked pieces of sponges in their mouth.  

The source said the detainees  were physically beaten, and in some occasions electrocuted in their genitals. He said some of the detainees have complained about poor health conditions as a result of the tortures they suffered from the state guards, but few were given medical attention.

According to the State House insider, the torture sessions were videotaped, and the President Yahya Jammeh gave orders to use force to obtain confessionary statements from the accused persons.

The accused persons are being held on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Yahya Jammeh.  But the state house insider said the detainees have repeatedly denied having involvement in the said coup, even though they were forced to make confessions through torture.

The State House insider informed the Freedom Newspaper that Amnesty International, and other rights groups are seemingly not paying attention on The Gambia, when in his words “ people are being tortured, and poisoned to death.” The insider warns that the mistreatment of their colleagues would be avenged sooner, or later and therefore warns that the world should not watch until The Gambia is plunged into a full blown political turmoil. The insider said many soldiers are unhappy with the status quo, and waiting for the right moment to bail out their tortured colleagues in jail.

“ If the President thinks he can torture our colleagues and go to bed peacefully, he better thinks twice. We are going to avenge all these tortures, and killings under his direct supervision. It is regrettable that the world is not paying attention on The Gambia, and they would be the first people to condemn us if  we happen take over the reins of power today. These people are being detained without reasons, “said the insider.

The insider urged the President to exercise some level of decency in the way he treats political prisoners—arguing that “what comes around, goes  around.” He warns that the President too would suffer the same fate if captured.