Police have said 50 people have been arrested in Sanyang village and that 22 of them are charged with offences including Arson and Rioters demolishing buildings.
“The arrested people have been charged with offences under the criminal code including Arson, Rioters demolishing buildings, Rioters injuring buildings, Unlawful assembly and Conspiracy to commit felony,” police said in a statement.
According to the statement, the 50 people will be arraigned before the courts as soon as possible.
“In view of the wanton destruction and looting of public and private properties by rioter’s contrary to the Laws of the Gambia, the Police High Command has initiated a thorough investigation into the incident on Thursday 19th March 2021.
“Preliminary assessment of properties damaged reveals that, 13 Fishing boats, 9 Boat engines, 5,273 Fishing nets were burnt and destroyed. Cash amount of about 8 Million Dalasis, 1 Million Five Hundred Thousand CFA, and Thirty- Four Thousand Chinese Renmini (RMB 34,000) is suspected to be looted from the Nessim Fish Meal processing company and from individual residents. A total of four Motor Vehicles including two Pickups and two Mini Truck were also burnt down. Sanyang Police Station was attacked and the building burnt down including all records, Case exhibits, furniture and a Taxi Car parked at the station, was equally damaged.
“Homes of 5 individuals within the Village were attacked and their compounds and properties vandalised. A mobile shop was broken into and items estimated at Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven Thousand Dalasis were all looted.
“Threats of violent attacks on foreign nationals within the coastal south areas led to the creation of a temporary shelter at Batokunku Village. The shelter is currently inhabited by over 250 people of various nationalities, mainly Senegalese. Security and relief is being provided for individuals at the shelter while efforts to reintegrate them into their communities are underway,” police said.