More Heads Roll At NDEA—Firing Spree!!!

Women Officers Claimed Harassment

Bun Sanneh And Co Investigated For The Murder Of A Nigerian!!!

By Staff Reporter Bakary Gibba & Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319 

More heads continue to roll at the National Drug Enforcement Agency, following Tuesday’s wave of sackings of the agency’s senior and junior officials, the Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report.  The agency’s “Force Order” as it is called here in Banjul  announced the dismissal of 20 anti narcotic agents for unexplained reasons. Women serving senior anti narcotic officers suffered the latest purging of the NDEA, as they could be seen weeping around the corridors of the NDEA. They cried on top of their voices—thereby attracting the attention of passerby, and Islamic bank officials in the area. The dismissed women officers could not come to terms with the President’s office decision to send them packing. They created a big commotion around the Islamic Bank, as the women hugged each other while crying loud. It was a somber day in Banjul.

Another new list of dismissed officers emerged Wednesday. Aunty Luwis Joof was also fired. Aunty Lewis is the sister of Juwana Joof, the former wife of former Interior Minister Ousman Badjie, now Gambian Ambassador. Reports reaching the Freedom Newspaper say Aunty Ndey Rose Sambou officer commanding Bakoteh has been dismissed. She was onetime in Brikama before being moved to Bakoteh.

Also among the dismissed agents was Awa K Darboe, Narcotic Control Assistant one (NCA1). Ms. Darboe was posted in Basse. She is a native of Bansang.  She is also the sister of Mama Sona Darboe, wife of the detained former NDEA Deputy Director Karomo Bojang, sources said.

Yaya Badjie, alias Koukoi, (NCA1) attached to the Talinding station, and one Edrissa Sanneh, brother of the former NDEA operations Director Ousman Sanneh were both dismissed, sources in the heart of the NDEA said.  A drug squad agent Sergeant Bojang of the Brikama NDEA office has also been sacked. Lamin Bojang, a nephew of former operations Director Ousman Sanneh, and one Pierre were both fired.

     Women officers Claimed Harassment

According to sources President Jammeh’s Government has been known for promoting women rights, but the recent sacking of the female serving NDEA officers raises eyebrows in some quarters. Some of the affected female officers, who wished not to be named complained about harassment they suffered in the hands of their bosses.  They said they were targeted by their superiors because of their unwillingness to be part of the corruption clique at the NDEA. 

“ Ben Jammeh doesn’t know us. Khalilu Njie and Mbye Njie are the ones misleading Ben. The President has always been encouraging women to serve in his Government, but these people don’t value women. They treat us like dogs.  We have no voice in this institution. Now that they have fired us, we will use mediums such as the Freedom Newspaper to expose them to the President and the world. Both Mbye Njie and Khalilu Njie are dining with drug dealers. They have “killed” so many case files in this office. It would be a matter of time for the President to know these criminals.  I don’t think we deserve such a blackmail.  We shall continue to support the President despite their vicious sinister intentions against us,” one of the fired ladies told the Freedom Newspaper.

According to the protesting fired officers, President Jammeh should be wary of the like of Mbye Njie, and Khalilu Njie. They said the two are out to undermine the efforts of hardworking officers.

“ We call on the President to investigate some of the missing case files at the NDEA head office.  These people have collected millions of dalasi from drug dealers. No one dares question them about pending drug cases. They have transformed the NDEA as a money collection center.  Ben is working with dangerous people. He doesn’t know how the NDEA works and these people are preying on his lack of understanding of the institution.  He took over office without going through some of the suppressed drug files. If the President is willing to listen to us, he would get to the bottom of this matter. Ben is being misled,” said one of the aggrieved officers.

Meanwhile, some NDEA junior officers have been promoted to the rank of Inspectors, Chief Inspectors, and Superintendents. The NDEA had also recruited some new officers to replace the dismissed officers.

 Bun And Co  Being Investigated For Murder

Meanwhile, the former NDEA Director General Bun Sanneh, and  his former  operations Director Ousman Sanneh are being investigated in connection with the death of a Nigerian National, who was detained by the NDEA on allegations of cocaine trafficking.  The National Intelligence Agency agents yesterday visited the Mile Two Central Prisons, where they interviewed both Bun Sanneh and Ousman Sanneh about the death of the Nigerian National.

The facts of the case goes like this:  The Nigerian National was arrested on suspicion of cocaine trafficking.  He was detained by the NDEA overnight. The suspect at the time of his detention had concealed cocaine in his abdomen, which he intended to traffic overseas. 

Bun Sanneh, and his Deputy are being accused of failing to use discretionary measures to screen the detainee while under custody for possible cocaine concealment, sources familiar with the case said. 

The detainee had on numerous occasions complained about stomach pain while in custody, but the NDEA command at the material time failed to avail him with the opportunity for medical attention.  He later died in the cell, sources said.

A postmortem report conducted by a pathologist revealed that the Nigerian died because of the concealed cocaine. The cocaine was wrapped in a plastic bag. But the cause of his death was kept secret by the NDEA command. Both Bun Sanneh, and Ousman Sanneh hurriedly handed the body of the Nigerian for possible burial.

The death of the Nigerian national, whose name is yet to be released by the state is now under investigations. The state has assigned the NIA to interview the suspects linked to the murder.  Statements were also obtained from drug squad agents who witnessed the detention of the Nigerian National.  

No charges have been proffered against Bun Sanneh and Ousman Sanneh yet. The case is still under investigations, sources said.

 It is not yet clear if the Nigerian High Commission is aware of the death of their national. But sources said a good number of Nigerians had been intercepted with cocaine at the airport in the recent past concealed in their abdomens. Sources said if the late Nigerian was availed with medical attention, he would have defecated the concealed cocaine.  

   IGP Badjie’s Robbery Case Adjourned

 In another development, the robbery case involving former police chief Essa Badjie and ASP Ali Ceesay could not proceed due to the absence of the judge.  Justice Joseph E. Ikpala was said to have travelled to his native country Nigeria. The judge is on a family visit, judicial sources said. Neither the prosecution, nor the defense were in court on Thursday.  The case has been put on hold until the judge returns to Banjul at a latter date, said a judicial source who spoke to the Freedom Newspaper.

          Sacked Kiang Chiefs Replaced!

Meanwhile, the  sacked chiefs of Kiang East, and Kiang West have been replaced.  Kiang East Chief Ansumana Sanneh, and his Kiang West counterpart Alhagie Momodou Njie were sacked last week for unexplained reasons.

According to sources reaching this paper, one Mr. Jassey of Kolior village replaces former Kiang East Chief Ansumana Sanneh, while Omar Gibba, the Ex holder of Mandina has been reinstated. He replaces Alhagie Momodou Njie of Kiang West. 

The chiefs sacking followed a visit to the area by President Jammeh during his “Dialogue With The People’s Tour.”  The President was disappointed by the public turnout during his tour in Kiang.  He even lamented about the communities failure to welcome him.

During his speech, Jammeh said since the people of Kiang are opposed to his regime, he would deny them developmental projects. The President remarked “ Whether you like it or not, I will continue to rule this country. No election, no Marabout can remove me from power.  I will continue to rule this country until such a time that I am ready to hand over the country to the person I deemed fit to succeed me.”

While promising to extend help to his loyalists in the area especially in the area of education, and health care, Jammeh was hasten to add that if the people of Kiang fails to reconsider their opposition against his regime, he would disband the Governor’s office, and they would be left without a Governor in coming years.  The President said his administration would not bother to maintain a Governor’s office in the Lower River Region ( LRR) when the populace there are opposed his Government.

Lamin Waa Juwara is the Governor of the Lower River Region. Mr. Juwara’s job is on the line.  The President is displeased with his area. If he is not sacked, he might as well be redeployed to another region. Jammeh wants a Governor in  (LRR) who can canvass votes and support for him.