Inspector General of Police
By Landing Ceesay
The Inspector General of Police in The Gambia has promised to end cattle rustling in the country, especially in Wuli.
“I think the reason we are being petitioned [is that] maybe cases are being reported before getting viral or cases are not prosecuted or are not properly investigated. Now that I am told, after this session, there will be another way for us to try to see how best we can resolve this problem. I can fully promise that cattle rustling in the Gambia, particularly in Wuli, will be a thing of the past soon,’ IG Abdoulie Sanyang said.
The police boss made these remarks on Friday while appearing before the National Assembly standing committee on a public petition concerning a complaint by Wuli East Animal Protection Association alleging that the police failed to curb animal rustling in the region.
Sanyang, who is less than three months in office, recalled seeing the petitioners with his predecessor and said a directive was given for the matter to be investigated.
“I am aware sometimes back I have seen the Wuli people together with my late boss the [former] Inspector General of Police Mamour Jobe, and some members of [the] cattle association. Operations were directed to do the needful to make sure the problems are resolved, but I know [it] is a long-standing problem. That’s the reason when I took over the office just barely two (2) months ago among my strategic intent when I was briefing my senior management, cattle rustling and land issues were some of the major things I highlighted that there is a need for us to work hard so that we can resolve those problems in the country,” Sanyang informed the lawmakers.
The Police chief later informed that presently he signed a policing directive of collaboration with the local communities because the police realized that policing cannot be done in isolation.
“The need for the public association is key, and I think that’s one of the reasons we received this complaint from the cattle association. But as the new inspector general of police, I think what [it] supposed to be done will be done that I can promise,” he said.
The Wuli East Animal Protection Association petitioned the police. The said complaint was submitted to the National Assembly on the 19th of June 2020. The complaint sought parliament’s help to question the police chief why the police cannot or are unwilling to take the necessary steps in accordance with the Gambia Livestock Agency Act, 2008. The association complained of the losing of their animals such as cattle, horses and ruminants in the district to thieves.
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