An
alleged victim during the 2009 national witch-hunt exercise orchestrated by the
exiled Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh has informed the TRRC that he held
former president and the APRC government responsible for what happened to him.
Ansumana
Sajo, who appeared before the TRRC on Wednesday, observed that his health
condition worsen after he was forced to drink a concoction during a raid at his
community.
He
recalled that when they were arrested by the witch hunters and taken to Kololi,
they gave him and others some concoctions to drink, which taste bitter and made
them feel unconscious.
On
how he was captured, Sajo maintained that he was told by his friend that he was
an elderly person in the village and if he refused to go with the
witch-hunters, the Green boys will come for him and beat him.
He
explained that those who arrested him wore red attires.
He,
however, clarify that the witch hunters did not have drums with them at that
time, but there were people drumming at the village Bantaba.
He
also testified that the witch hunters went to the village rice fields to
collect some women referred to be witches.
“Maram
Bah was the one that led to my arrest as he put a pan in his workshop. One
Duguday Ceesay was also arrested. I can’t name some victims publicly because it
will cause trouble in Makumbaya”.
He
continued: “Morro Ceesay from Faraba was the camera man for the witch hunters.
At Baba Jobe’s house I was given the concoction to drink and after I drank two
cups of concoction, I threw the rest contained in the cup.”
The
witness further indicated that they were asked to take bath with the medicine
provided, saying they all slept where they sat down on that day.
He
noted that after drinking the concoction, he was unable to drink water neither
took bath or perform ablution.
“The
following day I was bathed with the same medication and also given more of the
concoction to drink again. I drank it three times in two days.”
After
returning from Makumbaya, he said he was interviewed by Halifa Sallah.
He
also disclosed that the same Kebba Jammeh alias K.B. Jammeh led the police
officers to his compound and was whisked away to Banjulinding. And upon
arrival, he noted that they were taken to Police Headquarters were he saw
Halifa Sallah again.
The
witness acknowledged that after he drank the concoctions, he developed severe
stomach pain for three consecutive days and one of his brothers’ sons came from
Cassamance helped him during his treatment.
After
this nightmare, Sajo now blames Yahya Jammeh and the APRC government
responsible of what happened to him.
