UPDATE ON YANKUBA DRAMMEH, FORMER DEPUTY CDS Finally Caught Up With A Relative

 

By Abubacarr Saidykhan

 

As part of his assignment to visit the families of security personnel and civilians who were recently arrested and detained with to view to providing updates on their situation, this reporter went to the family residence of Major General Yankuba Drammeh, former Deputy Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, and spoke with a close relative on his whereabouts.

 

Talking to an old woman called Amie Drammeh, an aunt to the former Deputy CDS, at the family home in Piccadilly- Latri kunda Sabiji yesterday, this reporter was told that Maj. Gen. Drammeh is still being detained following his removal from the Armed Forces.

According to the old woman, who is said to be in her 70s, her nephew was removed from the Armed Forces on a Friday (26 February) and that on the following Monday (1 March) he was arrested at his residence in Banjulinding. She said they have not seen or heard from him since then.

 

The old woman also recalled that Major General Drammeh was earlier dismissed but later reinstated back to his position.

 

The aunty said she had made several attempts to visit him but where to go to.

According to the old woman, her nephew cared for the family and relatives and stayed with them for eleven good years after becoming a military officer and only moved out of the family compound when he transferred to Bajulinding. She indicated that they are not aware that she is accused of committing any crime.

 

Editor’s Note

 

We have sent many reporters to find out about the detention of Major General Drammeh but could not get access to any family member until now. We hope family members would not wait to be contacted by Foroyaa before giving reports on the whereabouts of their relatives. We recognise that the State is a very powerful machine. Reports such as this are what remind a State of its obligation to prevent disappearance of people and detaining them without trial. A person who is in the hands of the state is in a grave yard unless and until those who are free assume their duty to express their concern for the due process of law to be allowed to take its course. We will update our detention without trial list at the end of the month. We hope the Attorney General’s Chambers will take note of the queries of detention without trial and advice the Government accordingly so that the practice would stop.