By: Kebba Ansu
Groups of angry mob of youths of Sanyang Village Monday went on rampage to vandalized and burnt down the police station in the community together with a Fishmeal Company in retaliation to the gruesome murder of one Gibriel Ceesay.
Ceesay is said to have been murdered by one Ganna Sey, a Senegalese national on a break and entering robbery, thereby maiming the mother and brother of the victim at their compound in Sanyang Bungkilling.
The protesters at the scene were chanting and demanding the ceasing of operation by all Senegalese fishermen and other foreign nationals fishing and residing in Sanyang as well as the immediate prosecution of the alleged murderer.
Scores of protesters who spoke with The Voice Newspaper Reporter on the ground disclosed that the laxity to prosecute Senegalese fishermen residing in the community for various offences reported at the Sanyang Police Station is responsible for the protest.
They noted that the murder of Gibriel Ceesay and the maiming of his brother and mother in their own compound cannot be left unattended by the youths who are ready to protect their community where state fails to provide the necessary security.
“We are out to protest over the murder of our brother Gibriel Ceesay, who was attacked and killed in his house by one Senegalese man, we cannot leave this unattended because Gibriel is a very hardworking young man who had helped lots of youths in the community. We want to send a strong signal to the government so that they can know that enough is enough,” said Matarr Jambang.
According to him, a number of incidences involving Senegalese fishermen residing in the community have been reported to the police without any outcome, noting that anytime resident reported case at the police station their case are thrown under the carpet, a situation the youths of Sanyang are wanting to end.
Edward Jatta, is among dozens of protesters found at the scene, he told this reporter that he is out to protest on the gruesome murder of his friend who has been a strong pillar of the youths of Sanyang, alleging that crime rate has increased in Sanyang beyond measure due largely to the presence of Senegalese nationals and with the operation of a Fishmeal Factory.
“What we are demanding is very simple, we are asking all Senegalese national doing fishing at the Sanyang beach to stop fishing at our beach immediately. We are also demanding the immediate closure of the Fishmeal Factories because these are the root causes of all the recent problems we are encountering in Sanyang.
According to him, his brother, a taxi-driver was assaulted by a Senegalese fisherman few days back, adding that to his dismay nothing was done against the accused that refused to pay his brother as well as causing bodily harm to him.
“We are now tired of all these issues involving foreign national whom we welcomed and honoured but their attitude is going out of hand, anytime a native has an issue with a Senegalese fisherman or other foreign fishermen nothing is done about the case. Today we are out to end all these issue that the authorities are seeing but not ready to solve,” said Micheal Kris.
In a visit at the Sanyang Major Health Center, Officers on duty declined to speak on the number of casualties admitted at the clinic, noting that more patients are been brought in to the facility as a result of teargas been thrown by the Paramilitary Police Officers in their frantic efforts to disperse angry protesters.
At the Sanyang Police Station, the entire building was burnt down to ashes including files and other valuable items at the stations, Officers on duty where found glaring at the burnt down building but refused to talk to the reporter.
Inside the community burnt down wheel tyres, woods and flammables are found meters away from each other on the highways and occasional stoning by the youths and throwing of teargas continued to flare up in the community.
Protesters said government have to act or the protest will continue, while affirming their stance that all Senegalese fishermen including all other foreign nationals working at the Sanyang Beach have to cease operation as well as the closure of all Fishmeal Factories in Coast of Sanyang.