CTV Africa

It took 15 years to have a concrete answer to the question: “Who Killed Deyda Hydara?” displayed on The Point’s front page banner since 2004. Vivid details to the circumstances of the killing of The Point’s ex-managing editor and co-proprietor, Deyda Hydara, emerged that he was shot and killed on the orders of ex-President Yahya Jammeh.  Mr. Hydara’s productive life was cut short by assassin’s bullet some 15 years ago when the newspaper he co-founded with childhood friend, Mr. Pap Saine, was celebrating its 13th anniversary. “One day, Tumbul Tamba told our patrol team that we (were) going for ‘the magic pen’ (code name given to Deyda Hydara as target for the operation),” Lt. Malick Jatta of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) and a member of former President Yayha Jammeh’s hit-squad known as ‘junglers’ yesterday testified before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC)  disclosed.  “We left Kanilai with Tamba’s car till Kanifing and to...

After his admission to the killing of veteran journalist Deyda Hydara on the orders of the former president, Yahya Jammeh, Lt. Malick Jatta of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) continued his testimony on Tuesday. He told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission that Yahya Jammeh also ordered the killing of Daba Marena, Alpha Bah, Ebou Lowe, Alieu Ceesay, Massi Jammeh, a lady callled Julia and Manlafi Corr.   “On the said assassination, Sana Manjang knocked Messi Jammeh down after shooting her two times on the head. Sainey Jammeh came with Julia and shot her to death. Alieu Ceesay who wanted to escape, was also shot with others and they were all dumped inside a well.” The army lieutenant indicated that it was his group that carried out these assassinations, but he (Jatta), Alieu Jeng, and Nyabally never took part. Further on the mysterious killings of more than 50 West African migrants including 44 Ghanaians, Nigerians, three Ivoirians, two Senegalese an...

Jungler Omar A. Jallow of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) confessed before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), his participation in the killings of 30 Ghanaians who were travelling as migrants.   He admitted that he had also participated in the killing of Haruna Jammeh. “On July 2005, I was on my guard post at Kanilai, where I was told to go to Banjul with Malick Jatta, Solo Bojang, Alieu Jeng and Tumbul Tamba to pick 30 Ghanaians and transport them to Cassamace.” The witness said, former President Yahya Jammeh ordered the assassination of the Ghanaians, adding that he was there with Kawsu Camara alias Bombardier, Bai Lowe, Musa Badjie, Landing Tamba, Sana Manjang, Solo Bojang, Alieu Jeng and Buba Jallow, a driver. Upon arrival at the assassination ground in Cassamace, the witness said he was transporting victims around the firing well, while Malick Jatta and Sana Manjang did the shootings. He disclosed that the last victim of the m...

Omar A. Jallow, a member of the hit-squad (killers) known as junglers initiated by former Gambia president, Yahya Jammeh, in his second appearance before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), on Wednesday admitted participation in the killings of 48 people including the strangulation of Baba Jobe, former strong man of the Alliance for Patriotic, Reorientation and Construction (APRC) and 30 Ghanaians.   Jallow made these revelations in his second appearance before the TRRC chaired by Dr. Lamin Sise and thus sought for national forgiveness. He said he also participated in the torture of three imams (Islamic leaders in prayers) and also the execution of the nine death row inmates, which was ordered by the former president, Yahya Jammeh in August 2012. “We were told by the then prison director David Colley, the Interior Minister Ousman Sonko and Justice Minister Babading Jobarteh to get the inmates from the prison, who included Tabara Samba, ...

  Amadou Badjie of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) and also a member of ex-president Yahya Jammeh’s killer-squad known as ‘junglers’ on Thursday testified before the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), disclosing that he and his colleagues worked for the former president as killers.   He further confessed that he took part in the killings of former soldier, Tumani Jallow and a civilian Abdoulie Gaye. “They were detained at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and later taken there by myself, Malick Jatta, Alieu Jeng, Omar A. Jallow, Michael Jatta, WO2 Fansu Nyabally and Saikuba Jarju and we wrapped a rope on their necks and pulled it till they died.” He revealed that he took part in the killings of nine death row inmates, disclosing he had killed only one of the nine inmates. “We were informed that Yahya Jammeh ordered the killings of nine inmates and we had to collect them to the Mile 2 Central Prison. We collected them and took the...

The president of India Ram Nath Kovind, at a press briefing at State House yesterday affirmed his government’s readiness to support The Gambia’s development plans in the areas of education, solar energy, industries, democracy and capacity building training. He said India and Gambia shared long standing bond, while congratulating President Barrow for fostering greater democracy, stability and nation building.  He added that they reviewed the bilateral relations and discussed global issues of mutual interest. “We agreed that we should expand our partnership on prosperity and development of our peoples. We signed memorandum of understanding and cooperation in the fields of education and medicine.” President Ram explained that they received instrument of electrification of the international solar alliance, saying that this will open up new opportunities of collaboration between the two countries on solar energy and help Gambia in climate change.  “We are...