Dear Friends,

 

I have just been informed that The Independent's editor-in-chief Musa Saidykhan was today picked up for questioning by three NIA agents. Initially, Mr Saidykhan was "invited" to the NIA headquarters. When he refused to go because his request to be told the reason for the invivation was denied, three men came to The Independent's offices to pick him up. Mr. Saidykhan demanded to see an arrest warrant but the agents told him that with or without a warrant, he had to come with them. They also took his cell phone from him for "screening."

 

At NIA headquarters, Saidykhan was questioned about events surrounding his recent trip to Johannesburg for an African editors forum about which he wrote in The Independent. While in South Africa, Saidykhan had also submitted a report to the authorities there on the state of the media in The Gambia. As at the time of sending this brief report, Mr. Saidykhan had been released but asked to report to NIA headquarters again tomorrow moring, Friday.

 

We will keep you posted on developments.

 

Baba

 

PS: NIA = National Intelligence Agency