By Adama Makasuba
Former military personnel of Gambia National Army, Sait Darboe has told the Truth Commission that the mission of 1994 Coupist was to either takeover the State House or dies.
“Because by the time we were out we were going for two things- the State House or the grave yard. Definitely if it has to go up to firing at each other, we expected that anything can happen. You can kill and you can be killed,” he said.
He told the commission that the Fajara Barracks attack was led by Lieutenant Sanna Sabally which he confirmed to have been in the attackers. He also added that they were only fifteen soldiers.
He further said: “We went to Fajara Barracks and entered through the back gate, and then we entered through the primary school that is where we penetrated by the time we got into the Barracks, we started firing in the air to confuse the situation.”
He added that: “the gendarmes were running out of their buildings, jumping over the fence, shouting with their wives, while we were advancing towards the guard room which was the target because that is where they have their Armory and without capturing the Armory, we were nowhere. So our target was the Armory.”
“I was carrying my (GPG) Rocket Propel Grenade launcher and Kalashnikov which was more than eight magazines rounds that day. I was having more than 6 RPGs. Of course it was the mission. At the same time, some of them were armed with GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) that can carry up to 500 machine guns,” Sait continued.
He said their aim at the time was to blow the guard room of Fajara Barracks and either to kill the gendarme or they surrendered, adding “luckily they surrendered.”
He told the Commission that: “We were ready to kill and destroy them or they surrender, luckily they surrendered. The firing lasted just for 15 minutes and we were finished with them, arrested lots of them and later transported them to Yundum Barracks where they were detained.”