Mr. IGP, The recent actions by the police in handling public disturbances, protesters, and suspects are appalling and have begun to raise public concerns about your personnelโs application of brute force in the execution of their duties.
Mr. IGP, we have witnessed in the past how Ebrima Barry, of blessed memory, was severely beaten and tortured by fire service officers, resulting in his untimely death in March 2000. The official autopsy by the state claimed a "natural death," but the public widely perceived this as a cover-up. Another incident involved the rape of a 13-year-old girl by a paramilitary officer in April 2000, which the government failed to investigate. These events triggered the April 10โ11 demonstrations, a dark chapter in our history that later haunted former President Jammeh until he lost the election to President Barrow.
Mr. IGP, I will not hold you accountable for the demonstrations and police brutality that occurred under President Barrowโs administration prior to your tenure, but I cannot overlook the recent incidents under your watch. The Constitution of The Gambia mandates under Section 176, Subsection 2, that โthe police shall be equipped to maintain law and order.โ In the same vein, Section 18, Subsection 1 states, โNo person shall be deprived of his or her life,โ and Section 21 declares, โNo person shall be subject to torture or inhuman or degrading punishment or other treatment.โ Your officers violated these constitutional provisions, notably Sections 18 and 21, during the GALA protests and in the handling of Omar Badjieโs case. It was alleged that Omar Badjie was brutally tortured, leading to his untimely death. However, your office refuted these claims, stating that he was โpursued and fell, and upon arriving at the hospital, he was confirmed dead.โ The public widely condemned this explanation as a cover-up, a tactic reminiscent of the April 10โ11 incident.
Mr. IGP, your officeโs attempt to downplay the death of Omar Badjie without holding the officers involved accountable risks sowing seeds of dictatorial tendencies toward the executive and emboldening your personnel to continue harassment and ruthlessness in the execution of their duties. This could lead to the emergence of a police state.
Mr. IGP, your office must uphold the Code of Conduct of the Gambia Police Force, which states in Article 6(a) that โa police officer shall treat all persons, including suspects and accused persons, with dignity and respect.โ For too long, the police force has been tainted by bribery, corruption, and brutality. These traits, combined with recent events, have caused the public to lose confidence in an institution meant to protect and serve them. It is your duty to restore public trust in this noble institution by taking the following actions: bring all officers involved in the death of Omar Badjie to justice, reform the training program at the police school, establish an oversight unit to monitor the activities of police officers, issue a public apology for the misinformation surrounding Omar Badjieโs death, and advocate for the passage of security sector reforms.
I remain in the service of the nation, for The Gambia ever true.
Cc: The Gambia Police Force EYE Africa TV Online
