By: Kemo Kanyi
The African descendants, resident in The Gambia, have called on the government to protect their community, especially the security authorities.
Speaking to journalists in a press briefing at the Jamaica Restaurant in Senegambia on Saturday, community leaders, activists and concerned citizens addressed issues, surrounding the safety of their community.
The briefing was intended to raise awareness, share information and strategize ways to help the victims’ families and enhance the community’s safety.
Luke McKenzie, leader of the Council of African Descendants, said two of their members were attacked and eventually couldn’t survive it.
“The two people were killed. Not just killed but murdered in February and recently in October. Last week, our brother was murdered in a forest in Tanji. He was stabbed multiple times. We were all distressed about that news,” McKenzie revealed.
“It has come to a point that we can no longer keep quiet about the undesirable happenings within our community. If these things are happening and nothing is done about them, then something is wrong somewhere or someone is covering up something,” McKenzie pointed out.
Zora Lescott, a victim of an attack in June 2024, detailed what she suffered when an alleged assailant attacked her in her room while asleep.
“On the 19th of June, I was attacked in my bedroom while I was sleeping. I was held at knifepoint and dragged down to my living room. The robber demanded money from me, which he got and I was stripped of my dignity,” sheshockingly recounted.
She expressed disappointment in the police’s handling of the incident.
“I am disappointed with the police because for me, they didn’t do anything. I lost my phone that had all my contacts. The police came to my house, took pictures and they got evidence, which was a knife, scissors, and the bag of the robber. I paid the police twice for them to get my IMEI number so that my phone could be tracked, which they were not able to do. I went to the police again and gave them my IMEI number but up to today, I didn’t hear from the police,” she narrated.
Marr Nyang, executive director of civil society organizationGambia Participates, called on the authorities to ensure the safety of residents in the country, irrespective of their backgrounds.
“Law and order must be restored. Where there is justice and accountability, residents of the country would be safe. Crime perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions,” he noted.
He urged The Gambia Police Force to intensify their efforts for the safety of all residents within the country.