Adama
Gassama, one of the survivors of the infamous national witch hunt exercise
ordered by the exiled former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh yesterday told the
TRRC’s regional hearing in Barra, how she and her late husband suffered in the
hands of the former president during the 2009 witch hunt exercise.
Narrating
her ordeal, Madam Gassama recalled that it was one fine day when they were
visited by two people, who are said to be witch hunters, who told her husband
that they wanted to take them for treatment. She testified that her late
husband (Kebba Sonko) told the witch hunters that he was sick.
She
disclosed that it was then the men went to collect two soldiers, who forcefully
arrested them and took them to Fort-Bullen in Barra.
“The
witch hunters came with a black goat which they buried alive.”
She
explained that she and her husband were arrested at their compound and were
later escorted by security personnel.
The
witness explained further that from Fort Bullen in Barra, they were later
transferred to a compound belonging to the late Baba Jobe in Kololi, where they
were given concoctions.
She
indicated that her husband was mercilessly beaten during their detention in
Kololi.
“My
husband was forcefully made to drink the local concoction for the second time.
He was dragged outside and dumped on other victims. After undergoing merciless
beatings, he never regained his health till the day he died.”
She
informed the commission that after the exercise her husband visited the
hospital frequently and subsequently died after two years.
