By Adama Makasuba
Batch Samba, first civilian witness to appear before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) revealed that the defunct National Intelligence Agency (NIA) dragged him naked on the floor to the back door.
“I was arrested at Bakoteh Estate by a group of NIA soldiers in my house. They broke my compound gate and also broke the main house door and found me in bed with my wife. They dragged me naked on the floor to the back door,” he told the commission in tears.
He explained that he was arrested by a four man officers from NIA on October 12 1995 following his refusal to work for the AFPRC government.
Mr. Jallow, who was a Headmaster of Makumbaya School at the time, shed tears as he recollects ordeals inflicted on him by the NIA officers while he was under detention, adding that when his arresters came for him, they came with a white Volvo Minivan Wagon in which he was flanged by them to NIA office in Banjul.
Mr. Jallow, who fled into exile shortly after his arrest gave names of those who tortured him as Daba Marena, Baba Saho, Musa Kinteh and Foday Barry, adding that while he was under detention Baba Saho once hit stone on his genital part which coerced him into coma.
He added that other people and he were tortured to the point that their bodies were oozed with blood, adding that every night or morning they have to wash off the blood from their bodies whilst they never had a shower throughout their detention.
He said: “Every morning we are being beaten, this was a routine. I never had a shower throughout my detention. Every night or morning they used cool water to wash the blood from our bodies.”
He further showed the commission series of scar marks caused by the torturing, saying that he lost his last finger and part of his tooth through the means of torture and that the NIA officials did use knife to tear his back legs.
