Ebrima Sanneh, a victim of Police Anti-Crime Unit brutality which allegedly committed by the unit’s Commissioner Gorgi Mboob has urged the Police to retract its statement. The statement issued by the Gambia Police Force had denied his torture as it was published on Poliso Magazine social media account.
“My family and I are currently seeking legal advice,” Sanneh said in a statement made available to The Voice on Sunday.
The statement read “My attention has been brought to a publication from Poliso Magazine social media account titled “False News, in the matter of Ebrima Sanneh’s alleged Torture”. This press release aimed to refute news reports that I was tortured which is actually the fact,” he said.
However, Sanneh said the publication also highlighted that “for verification purposes, his (EbrimaSanneh) family can be contacted.”
“Given the seriousness of this matter I am compelled to put it in writing that I was tortured and that the publication by Poliso Magazine contains numerous inaccuracies which are evidently wrong. It is important to note that Poliso Magazine or the authors of the release did not contact me to get my account of the incident. I am disappointed that the police are quick to jump to conclusions and cover up rather than conduct a proper investigation to get to the facts of the issue,” he pointed out in the statement.
Sanneh further explained that “firstly, I was at Kanifing Hospital by 5am in the early morning of Saturday 25th July 2020. I was actually arrested around 3am to 4am in the early hours of Friday, 24th July 2020. I was arrested from Ice Lounge with almost 30 other people.”
He said, “All of us were held in one cell and forced to weed grasses in the gardens and farm of Anti-Crime Unit in Bijilo the next morning. As we continued weeding grasses, I mistakenly felled a corn plant and that’s when Gorgi Mboob attacked me. Gorgi Mboob punched me in the face and then hit me with a hoe on my private part after snatching it from my hand.”
“I was semi-conscious and left on the field like that in pain for what felt like over 40 to 50 minutes without any medical attention. When I got up to urinate, I was in a lot of pain urinating abnormally and discharged what looked like blood. I was then sent back to the cells for further detention.
“In fact, I was re-arrested with no warrant or charge around midday of Saturday 25th July 2020 from Kanifing Hospital and dragged back to the Anti-Crime Unit in Bijilo. This time my relatives and friends came to get me and Gorgi Mboob actually pleaded for forgiveness and then I left.
“I am currently seeking medical attention as I am in serious pain and request for the public continuous support and the required space and time to recover physically,” he said.
He made a request saying “I am also requesting that the Police retract their statement denying my torture. My family and I are currently seeking legal advice.”
According to him, he and his family appreciated all the support they have been getting and continue to depend on it.
Publication from Poliso Magazine Social Media Publication
FALSE NEWS, IN THE MATTER OF EBRIMA SANNEH’S ALLEGED TORTURE
‘The Office of the Inspector General of Police has noticed with great concern a story circulating on social media with caption “Gorgi Mboob accused of attacking Ebrima Sanneh in his genitals”.
‘This story is not only false but calculated to mislead the public.
‘Today, Saturday the 25th of July 2020 around 05:00hrs, the Police Anti-Crime Unit received a call for assistance as certain individuals were fighting outside the former Duplex Night Club. A team of Officers were dispatched to the location where they effected arrest on certain individuals.
‘The parents of the arrested persons were called and it was during this time when Ebrima Sanneh complain of abdominal pain. He was given police escort together with his family members to the hospital. Medical examination was conducted on him and he was said to be without any complications as indicated in an ultrasound scan report.
For verification purposes, his family can be contacted.
The Inspector General’s Office strongly advises all bloggers, writers, and journalists to verify facts on security matters before publication. The cooperation of the public is highly solicited.”
