Five members of the “APRC No To Alliance” faction of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) party have been arrested and detained at the Bundung Police Station since Friday.
The arrests occurred after some members took to the streets to tie APRC flags to street poles.
Kexx visited the Bundung Police Station to gather information regarding the arrests.
Speaking to Babucarr Kujabi, who was among the people tying the flags, he explained that while tying the flags one ASP Alieu Jallow and three officers arrived in a police vehicle, GPF patrol 15.
Kujabi further explained that ASP Jallow asked for their ring leaders. He replied that they were Alhagie Sanneh and Edu Mendy. ASP Jallow then told them that they were instructed by the OC of Bundung Police Station that there were APRC members tying flags in the street and that they needed three leaders of the group for questioning and ASP Jallow left with Alhagie Sanneh, Edu Mendy, Sainey Sanneh, Ismaila Kujubi, and Ebrima Sanneh.
Babucarr Kujabi further stated that, according to Alhagie Sanneh’s narration, upon their arrival at the police station, they were asked whether they had a permit to tie the flags. Alhagie Sanneh responded that they did not know a permit was required to tie flags. He was then asked who authorised them to tie the flags, and he responded that the youth had gathered themselves to do so following the announcement by former President Yahya Jammeh of his intention to return to the country after years of absence, to welcome him.
At the police station, there was a visible display of solidarity as other members spent the night outside the Bundung Police Station under a shop veranda opposite the station, describing it as solidarity for their detained comrades, and the numbers continuously kept increasing in the morning.
Attempts to gather information from the Bundung Police Station regarding the reasons for the arrests were unsuccessful. The medium was directed to the police headquarters in Banjul for any official statement or information.
The police spokesperson (PRO) was contacted for official communication regarding the arrest. His response was that he also got the information from social media and had forwarded it to the authorities, but he had yet to receive a response. He promised to get back to this medium upon gathering information surrounding the arrests.
At 13:35, Hon. Gibba of Foni Kansala arrived. He entered the police station and was ushered into an office. After engaging in a discussion with officers, he spoke to me. Hon. Gibba revealed he had reached out to the Deputy IGP and the security adviser and stated that the five detainees will be granted bail.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available from official police sources or as bail issues progress.
Source: Kexx Sanneh
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