The government the Gambia has vowed to investigate alleged police torture and brutality through the Ministry of the Interior over the death of a 33-year-old Serekunda market vendor.
Mr Ousman Darboe, whose death has led to allegations of police brutality followed by angry demonstrations on Wednesday, was a known asthma patient who was detained by the Police Anti-Crime Unit and subsequently granted bail.
He died a week later at a local health facility and not in police custody, a statement received by The Voice on Friday said.
A statement signed by Ebrima Mballow Gambian Minister of Interior said: “My ministry takes allegations of torture and police brutality very seriously and has attentively listened to all your grievances, complaints and resentments against our law enforcement agents.”
He said that a committee of independent investigators from all the security sectors has been constituted to thoroughly investigate and determine whether Mr Darboe was tortured as alleged.
He stressed that should the investigation reveal that he died as a result of torture, those implicated will face the full force of the law.
He added: “The Ministry also seizes this opportunity to extend the condolences of the entire security apparatus of The Gambia to the family of the late Ousman Darboe as they go through a very difficult period of mourning the death of such a loving, caring and responsible husband, father and parent. We are deeply saddened by Ousman Darboe’s demise and pray that our independent investigations bring healing and closure to Ousman Darboe’s death.”
According to him, Ousman’s death led to violent protests in the Serrekunda Market, Bijilo, Bertil Harding Highway and other areas within the Greater Banjul Area resulting in sporadic looting and violent attacks against innocent Gambians on 24 July.
He added that protesters also attacked the offices of the Anti-crime Unit and subsequently burnt the house of Commissioner Gorigi Mboob, the Head of the Anti-crime Unit.
Mballow also said unfortunately, as demonstrations against alleged Police complicity in Mr Darboe’s death were raging in the Kanifing Municipal Council area of Serekunda, another tense demonstration was taking place against allegations of financial corruption and incompetence directed at the Brikama Area Council. In both places, the security forces had to intervene to keep the peace and restore calm.
“It is against this unpleasant picture festering its ugly head in our young democracy, that we sincerely appeal against all acts vandalism and looting as they are unlawful, violent, inhumane and potentially dangerous. If police stations and private properties are vandalised and looted, it is the Gambian people that bear the brunt and everybody will be a looser,” he pointed out.
He warned the public to desist from taking the law into their own hands, stressing that “mob justice and or self-initiated justice have no place in our national laws”.
