By Buba Gagigo
Kerr Fatou has been reliably informed with documentary proof suggesting that the latest gunshot victims from Foni had Gambian ID cards. The victims, three of have since died,are said by a government statement to be non-Gambians registered with the UNHCR, Banjul Office as refugees.
Their supposed refugee registration documents too were leaked online.
However the National Assembly member of Foni Kansala where the victims came from, Almamy Gibba has refuted suggestions that the men were not Gambians.
“There are talks going around saying these people killed are Senegalese and they have refugee cards. Here is the evidence that these people are Gambians I have the birth certificate of Demba Colley, the ID Card of Sulayman Colley and the ID Card of AlagieManga,” Hon Gibba stated in a statement shared with the Kerr Fatou, with attachment of the Gambian documents of the victims.
The latest shootings came after another fatal one involving one Yankuba. Badjie last month.
In a statement responding to issues raised by the affected NAMs which include a demand for the withdrawal of Senegalese soldiers,and a stop to the wrongful termination of Foni people, the Gambia Government yesterday accused the representatives of spreading false allegations:
‘’Among a litany of complaints, the Honorable members raised concerns over the presence of ECOMIG forces in Foni, investigations into the deaths of certain individuals particularly, the death of one Yankuba Badjie, the unsubstantiated allegations of unfair termination and dismissal of Foni “citizens” from key civil and public service positions as well as targeting of people from Foni by the various Commissions of Inquiry.
The Gambia Government takes these statements seriously and wishes to restate for the benefit of the five National Assembly Members and the public that the security and territorial integrity of the country are paramount.
The presence of the ECOMIG forces across the country, the Foni Region inclusive, is necessitated by genuine security concerns exacerbated by a porous southern border. The ECOMIG have been instrumental in maintaining peace and security as The Gambia navigates its very sensitive transition.
The Government takes allegations of loss of all human life very seriously and is committed to carrying out all necessary investigations to ascertaining the circumstances,’’ the statement signed by Government spokesman Ebrima Sankareh stated
The victims are Demba Colley, age, 23, Alagie Manga, age, 23 and Ebrima Colley, age, 20 died Friday while a fourth one Sulayman Colley sustained injuries.