Seedy Mucktarr Touray, Inspector General Of The Gambia Police Force
By Buba Gagigo
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Seedy Mucktarr Touray has reiterated that officers are strictly prohibited from engaging in or commenting on the nation’s internal politics.
Speaking at a press conference in response to inquiries regarding Assistant Superintendent Binta Njie, IGP Touray underscored the legal and ethical constraints placed on law enforcement personnel.
“The police force is being regulated by various instruments.” Touray stated. “We’re now talking of the police Act. We Are talking of our code of conduct, and we are also talking of the general orders and the civil service rules and regulations, which does not permit serving members of the force to talk or interfere with the internal politics of the nation.”
While acknowledging the individual political rights of police officers, Touray stressed that such affiliations must remain private. “It is the sovereign rise of every individual police officer to be affiliated to a political party, but this must not be manifested, so long as you have put on our (uniform),” he said.
The Inspector General also dismissed allegations that Assistant Superintendent Njie faced intimidation. “First and foremost, let me clarify the point of being said, she’s been intimidated. There is no intimidation (Of Binta Njie),”
he asserted. “And my colleague, Assistant Superintendent of Police Binta, the little I know of her, will never say to anybody that she’s been intimidated. So let me clarify that point.”His remarks come amid growing outrage over the insult-laden comments made by Baboucarr Bahoum about Kiang and its inhabitants. In response, ASP Binta Njie, a native of Kiang, addressed the issue in her personal capacity as a daughter of the aggrieved region. Although her post did not touch on politics, it drew the ire of the police leadership. Reports indicate that a high-ranking officer asked her to delete the post, but she refused, leading to her being summoned for questioning. Her questioning has sparked widespread uproar, with critics accusing the police of compromising their impartiality in national discourse and favoring the ruling party.