The Gambia Police Force Anti-Crime Unit (ACU) has come under the limelight again barely two weeks after Commanding Officer Goorgi Mboob received a suspension letter for alleged brutality meted out to one Lamin Kinteh a resident of Brikama.
This time the Darboe Kunda’s family of Sukuta Sanchaba has come out with fresh allegation directed towards personnel of the ACU, as they expressed their shock, grieviance and anger towards the brutality meted out to their family members on Saturday, 8th August, 2020, at Sukuta Sanchaba.
The aggrieved family told The Voice Newspaper that in the evening of Saturday, personnel of the Anti- Crime Unit stormed their compound in pursue of some alleged violations of the regulations of the State of Public Emergency. They disclosed that during the process certain Anti-Crime operatives assaulted Aminata Sanyang, a pregnant woman, Kebbeh Barrow, an old woman and Ismaila Darboe all of the Darboe Kunda Family.
“On Saturday whilst I was seating under our verandah, I suddenly saw about four Anti-Crime Operatives entering in pursue of some youths who were claimed to have been offenders. However, one of the alleged offenders gripped me on my wrappers and fervently called for my help but this doesn’t drain down well to one of the officers who harps insults and accused the women of interfering in their work. And in the process he hits me twice on my stomach,” Aminata Sanyang revealed the incident to The Voice.
She went on explained that “My appeal for calm from the officers was not heard instead the officer elbowed me in my stomach by one of the officers who came into our compound. In my attempt to take the photo of the one who assaulted me, another group of four officers also gripped me to force me to hand over my phone to them. When I refused it led to further hitting me on my stomach again.”
According to members of the family, the anti-crime also manhandled her in-law Kebbeh Barrow and Ismaila Darboe who also protested about the behaviour of the officers in the compound, revealing that the same officers also manhandled the duo for protesting against their ill-behaviour.
Mustapha Darboe, husband to Aminata Sanyang expressed his disappointment to the attitude of the anti-crime operative for assaulting her wife, disclosing that her wife was taken to Sukuta Health Center for check-up before been referred to the Serrekunda General Hospital for further medical examination.
“We will hold the anti-crime accountable to anything happens to the pregnant woman who has been going through lots of pain since the incident occurred. We have reported the matter to their main office and they also promised to fetch out those responsible for the act,” Darboe disclosed.
He called on relevant authorities to take steps against cases of brutality and assaults orchestrated by personals of the anti-crime in the execution of their duties.
Supt Lamin Njie, Public Relations officer of Gambia Police Force told this medium the case of the Darboe Kunda Family have not yet reach the Police Complaint Unit even though he personally came across a purported video claimed to be the issue of the family.
PRO Njie, advised the family to launch their complaint to the police complaint unit for any redress.
