The people of Sintet Fula Kunda in the Foni Jarrol District were on 10 March confronted by the so-called ‘witch hunters’. According to residents of the village, the ‘witch hunters’ invaded their village on that Monday when they were on their preparation for the annual commemoration of the prophet’s birthday known as “Gamo”. According to the information gathered by those who were abducted by the witch hunters, on the day mentioned some witch hunters and green boys and P.I.U personnel entered the village forcing elders to go and join them at main village of Sintet where transports were awaiting to ferry them to Kanilai. According to one Alhaji Abdoulie Awa Sowe, they forced him to join the rest of the abductees from his house. Sowe narrated that when the ‘witch hunters’ got into his house, they asked him whether he had any evil spells. Sowe went on to say that the witch hunters started searching his house after his brother was already abducted by them. He narrated how he was taken to join the rest of the abductees and they were forced to join the vehicle to Kanilai. He said that upon arrival at Kanilai, they were taken to a small camp which lies more than a kilometer from Kanilai. One could not see any person in the place other than military officers and green boys. He revealed that at that place some due to their old age were only asked to wash with the concoction while others were forced to drink it when they refused to admit that they eat human flesh. He said for him he was given the concoction on two occasions. He fell unconscious for almost 20 hours without knowing where he was. He said the concoction is so bitter that no human being could use it without being affected in one way or the other. He also revealed that after using the concoction he was forced to narrate the number of people he allegedly ate, their names and where he used to cook them before he finally eats them. He said knowing fully that if he did not say anything he would be forced to continue drinking the concoction and get seriously sick he said he decided to tell them some plant names in Fula. Sowe also said he told the witch hunters that he used to cook his victims in Casamance and when they asked him to go with them to see the place, he said he told them that it is very far as the place is beyond Kolda. He said this was how he was freed. He described the witch hunters as mere bandits who did not know anything and could not even practice anything but making mere pretence. He said they also asked him to sing the songs of the witches and he deliberately sang the following songs which sounds like “Rechicho Rechacho”. Sowe expressed disappointment and anger with the action of the witch hunters who he said are really violating the rights of the people. He said it is very sad and disappointing to see the way and manner these people are treating people in that place. Sowe said he was later taken to Ahmadiyaa hospital for treatment. Other abductees also explained their ordeal and said they were also forced to use the concoction and to talk. However Foroyaa was also informed that many people left their homes to see refuge in neighbouring Cassamance. According to the information gathered by this reporter, about five of the abductees in Sintet Fula Kunda are presently under going medical treatment in the Kombos. Among those undergoing medical treatment is one Ali Bah who is said to have undergone an operation. Further information also reveals that the following people were abducted from Sintet Fula Kunda; Ali Kumba Bah, Jambunge Bah, Hawa Jobbel Bah, Teddy Bah, Busel Bah, Binta Jallow, Aras Badji, Sanguma Sowe, Alh. Abdoulie Awa Sowe Sutay Jallow, Teddy Bah, Nyappa Bah Sutay Bumma Bah, Kumba Busel Bah, Chewdo Jallow, Mairam Bah, Samba Sowe, Jibbeh Ngudu Bah Gibbi Jallow, amongst others. The other abductees were said to be from Busongai village and the main village of Sintet and Kabumbu villages. According to some youths of Sintet Fula Kunda, when their parents were taken away they had to follow them to Kanilai, but were denied access to see them. According to them they later travelled in a car up to Mayork village at night and had to walk from there to Sintet for the whole night. An abductee Karamo Sanneh of Kabombu, in his narration said the witch hunters entered his village the same day with green boys and military officers. Mr. Sanneh said they entered his compound without his notice and permission and entered his house. He said they brought down his suit cases (boxes) even though he warned them not to do so. He said they stopped and proceeded to abduct others in the village. According to him they later came back to him to force him to join other abductees who were already put inside three vehicles to go to Kanilai. He said when they were on their way to Kanilai he was receiving many telephone calls prompting his abductors to stop him from receiving his calls and even seized his phone. He said they were all taken to a small camp which he said is away from Kanilai. He said it is at that camp that they were given the concoction and were forced to drink and to wash with it. He said he was forced to use more than 1 litre of the concoction which he said made him to completely fall unconscious for many hours. He said he was seriously affected. He said he had been beaten by both the military and the green boys as he refused to accept being a witch. Sanneh said as at now he was feeling stomach ache and would try to travel to the Kombos for medical check ups. He said at Kanilai he was asked to narrate what he is. “I told them am an opposition sympathizer”. He said they replied that they were not enquiring his political affiliation but whether he is a witch or not. Sanneh went on to say that the action of the witch hunters and the people accompanying them is really inhuman. He said their village Imam and other 10 people were all taken to Kanilai. This reporter was also informed that two people from main Sintet village namely; Bully Badjie and Ummi Dampha had left their homes and ran to Casamance in the Southern region of Senegal. A source further said Bully had recently lost his son who was serving in the National Army and is now being accused of being a witch who is behind the death of his son. Many people condemned the action that compelled Bully to leave the village; they claim that many youths and adults have died in the village but no one ever accuse their parents of witch craft. According to them Bully has lost his bread winner and should be given assistance or solidarity to sustain the family rather than being stigmatized as a witch. 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