‘Jammeh ordered killing of Daba Marena, 6 others’

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 and a Togolese in July 2005, the ex-jungler maintained that it was on a night when the late Tumbul Tamba called for an emergency night patrol. 

“I, Solo Bojang, Alieu Jeng, Tumbul Tamba, Michael Jatta, Bora Colley and Mustapha Sanneh were dressed in battle gears, armed and went out for a night patrol.”

The victims, mistaken to be mercenaries from West Africa, were indeed migrants on their ‘backway’ journey to Europe.

After taking these West African nationals to the bush somewhere in Cassamance, Jatta explained that Solo Bojang commanded him to kill one of the victims, which he did, and the rest were shot by others. “We were divided into two groups at the time of operations,” he added. 

The witness further indicated that he suspected there were other shootings at Ghana Town in Brufut. However, he recalled that Sana Manjang sliced one of the victims into pieces.

Lt. Jatta stated that junglers at the time were occupying a compound that was said to have belonged to the late Baba Jobe and were exposed to all kinds of vices such as alcohol, cannabis as well as hiring prostitutes.

On the 2006 coup attempt led by former CDS Ndure Cham, Lt. Jatta  disclosed that  he was part of the soldiers who conducted the arrest and also participated during their interrogation.

The ex-jungler acknowledged that Jammeh used to put libation (spiritual waters) on food that they used to eat and the ones he distributed among mosques during the Holy Month of Ramadan in order to control the mindset of Gambians.

Further on his testimony relating to the death of Haruna Jammeh, Lt. Jatta explained that the late Haruna Jammeh was picked up by the NIA operatives one day, adding that he was informed by one Omar Jallow that he (Jallow) alongside Alieu Jeng and Sanna Manjang killed Haruna.

The TRRC witness stated that he was wanted for not reporting back to his guard post at Kanilai, where he could have being involved in more assassinations.

He, however, admitted killing innocent people and thus asked for forgiveness from the affected families and the entire populace.

Author: Pa Modou Cham