Lt. Sanna Sabally former Vice chairman of Armed Forces Provisional Ruling (AFRPC) directed the execution of the11th November, 1994 and he was assisted by Lt Edward Singhateh, Lt Sadibou Hydara, Peter Singhateh, Alhagie Kanyi and Batch Samba Jallow, witness told the Commission.
Baboucarr Jeng, the former Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) as the nineteenth witness at the Truth Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC), gave the evidence yesterday.
It could be recalled that on November 11, 1994; a dozen or more serving members of The Gambia Armed Forces were either massacred at the Fajara Barracks, Yundum Barracks and the Brikama Firing Range on allegations of staging a purported Coup meant to dislodge the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council.
Those killed includes; Lt. Basirou Barrow, Lt. Abdoulie Bah, Lt. Dot Faal, Lt. Gibril Sai, Cadet Amadou Sillah, Momodou Lamin Darboe, Sgt Fafa Nyang, Sgt Basirou Camara and among others
“Lt. Basirou Barrow was shot on the head by Lt. Edward Singhateh at 2am in the Fajara Barracks; Volleys of gunshot were harped on Dot Fall at Yundum Barracks while Ebrima EM Ceesay was also arrested at the Yundum Barracks. He appealed to pray before been executed by Edward Singhateh and his team. Lt. Gibril Sai, Bakary Manneh and Basirou Camara were executed at the Brikama Firing Range where they were executed by Edward Singhateh, Peter Singhateh, Batch Samba Jallow, and Alhagie Kanyi and among others,” RSM Jeng told the Commission.
He also told TRRC that all the carnages that were witnessed on 11th November, 1994 were solely supervised by Lt. Sanna Sabally, the former Junta Vice chairman who was assisted by Edward Singhateh, Peter Singhateh, Alhagie Kanyi and Batch Samba Jallow.
Recollecting memories of the early morning of November 11, 1994, the former Regimental Army Major of the Armed Forces told the Commission that there was lot of movement of speeding vehicles in and out of the Mile Two Prison. He added that he was later informed by one sergeant Nyang Kabareh that there was an alleged coup that was foiled.
Jeng further told the Commission that the conditions at the State Central Prison were very bad and horrible, adducing that for weeks into his detention, he was not allowed to take bath, no medical treatment and there was no provision of blankets.
“We (the prisoners) were only given blankets when the then Chief of Defense Staff, Babucarr Jatta with the Director of National Security Services, Samba Bah and Gibril Joof, also the former Inspector General of Police visited us but before this visit we were subjected to various forms of mental and physical tortures by personals of the Junta; Sanna Sabally, Edward Singhateh, Sadibou Hydara, Yankuba Touray, Peter Singhateh, Batch Samba Jallow and Alhagie Kanyi also visited us at one time and we were subjected to various tortures,” RSM Jeng told the Commission.
RSM Jeng also told the Commission that what pains him most was the insult of his mother by Yankuba Touray, the former member of the ruling council. He then added that the insults were more painful than any other punishment meted on him under detention at the Mile Two prison.
According to him, the 1994 Coup was as a result of greed and selfishness that consumed the minds of some soldiers who were enticed with money by some corrupt civilians in a bit to effect a change of government in the country, revealing that Saihou Sabally former Vice President and Minister of Defense as well as Sulayman Bun Jack, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defense knew about the coup and its plan.
Holding the Quran in his hands “He swears to Allah by saying “Bilahi Walahi Tallahi” Saihou Sabally, the former Vice President and his Permanent Secretary Sulayman Bun Jack are the ones behind the 1994 Coup. They were behind the coup that brought untold carnage to this country for 22years. They transferred him to Farafenni for the fact that they knew he will not support their plan which they did to others whom they thought will be an obstacle to their plans,” Jeng told the TRRC.
According to him, Sabally and Jack knew very well about the 1994 Coup as they were giving envelopes to some members of the Armed Forces as a token for their participation. He then added that some of the soldiers who were considered to go against the Coup were quickly moved to other units and areas. He further stated their plan was what led to his transferred to Farafenni where he has no duty to perform.
He called on President Barrow to continue with the reforms and take the bull by the horn in effecting this reforms, noting that the Army needs to be reformed, rebranded and down scaled. Likewise, to be given more vocational and professional training to better serve its purpose for The Gambian people.