Madi Jobarteh, a renowned human rights activist and advocate, has urged the government of The Gambia to adequately equip the Gambia Police Force (GPF), which is poorly resourced and in very deplorable conditions.
“Since 2017, there was supposed to be a security sector reform which should fully consider not only the welfare of the police, but also their working tools and general working environment. The incidences of police officers being hit by vehicles or attacked by assailants are far too many, mainly because police officers are unprotected. We have even seen police officers lacking basic things such as raincoats, boots and other materials such that they have to get soaked in water just to manage traffic,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
“We recall the case of officer Kaddy Jarju, who was seen standing in a pool of water last year bare-footed simply because she was not supplied any protective gears. Her picture on social media prompted massive public show of support leading to her promotion. The Government bears responsibility to ensure that the police are protected in doing their job. The IGP should make sure that his officers are not placed in vulnerable situations. Not only do such vulnerable conditions put the lives of officers at risk but these conditions also erode the respect and dignity of the entire Gambia Police Force.”
He added that the unfortunate death of Police Officer Buba Bah on Monday, after being hit by a runaway taxi driver at a checkpoint in Giboro about 10 days ago is utterly despicable and unacceptable. He expressed his hope that the taxi driver would be apprehended and prosecuted, adding that there is absolutely no excuse to harm or take the life of a law enforcement officer.
“While condemning the action of the taxi driver, the time has come to further re-echo the deplorable working conditions of the police which are major causes contributing to the endangering of the life of police officers. The sheer lack of basic tools and measures for the safety and protection of police officers on duty needs to be addressed by the Government.”
“For example, how could this driver have escaped if the checkpoint had a fully-fuelled vehicle or a motorbike to hotly pursue the taxi? It is obvious that in most police checkpoints there are no vehicles or motorbikes on standby. It begs the question as to how would the police be able to take action in such cases of hit and run. What this incident exposes is that checkpoint was under-resourced, hence, rendering it incapable of both saving the life of Officer Bah or apprehending the taxi immediately or both. This is utterly unacceptable,” he said.
He concluded that, therefore, the time has come for police officers themselves to take matters in their own hands by demanding better working conditions including their safety and protection, and if this requires members of the police to protest, they should do so. “It is not strange for police officers to go on strike to demand better working conditions. I am sure members of the society such as myself will stand with the police to demand better conditions for them.”
“I call on members of society to stand up with the police to demand urgent, comprehensive and progressive reforms that will ensure their full safety and protection. It is a moral duty on us all to support the police to have the necessary protection while they protect lives.”
