By Adama Makasuba
Warrant Officer Class 2 of The Gambia Army, Babucarr Njie code name (Njie Ponkal or Cheb), has denied partaking in the killings of allege 11 November coup plotters and other killings; but accepted to torturing detainees.
Mr. Njie was testifying before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission on Monday.
“If I am lying may Allah… this evening take my soul I have not witness where soldiers were executed neither to participate in shooting at them. Like I said, I remain to my words I remain consistent, I didn’t shoot at soldiers,” he said while holding the Holy Qur’an in his hand.
At least five TRRC witnesses mentioned Njie of participating in execution of allege 11 November coup plotters in the bush.
In his explanation about the incident at Fajara Barracks, he said Sanna Sabally was the only soldier who shot at soldiers at Fajara Barracks in which he said Abdoulie Dot Faal was strike by a bullet on his leg.
Njie, 47, said: “Sanna Sabally asked them (captives) to lineup facing the residential area in the football field and Sanna asked them to say their last prayer, then he started shooting indirectly at the captives and a round strike Dot Faal and fell down.”
Mr. Njie, who was an orderly to Sanna Sabally, said while they went to abort the allege 11 November coup in 1994, he saw a group of soldiers beating Lieutenant Basiru Barow to death but said he didn’t participated in torturing Barrow.
He however, said: “I personally boot strutted and slapped one Jammeh, which I regretted. I was 21 years old then and was only three yeas seven months in the army. I did it because no one ordered me to that.”
Meanwhile, he also said he was arrested and detained at Mile 2 Prison by the Junta members for two years with no benefit from his salary.
