Our correspondent learnt that since late Friday night, the Gambia Police force and National Intelligent Agency (NIA) have been arresting teachers and students members of the President’s International Awards Scheme Institute, situated in Bakau. The incident started on Friday 11 May 2012, when Staffs and students of the institute staged protest demonstrations, the day before on Thursday 10 May 2012 against the re-instatement of their former Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abdoulie Bah, by the Minister of Youths and Sports, Alieu K Jammeh. The angry students, who were chanting “we don’t want Abdoulie Bah”, said they need the help of the authorities to address the problem at their institute.

They alleged Mr Bah of mismanagement of the institute’s funds. They lamented they had raised their concerns with the relevant authorities, but their complaints were ignored. They alleged Mr Bah of mismanaging D1million subvention received from the Ministry Youths and Sports and a further one-by-six loan for the staffs shortly before the last Tobaski feast, which are yet to be accounted for.

Our reporter learnt that until Thursday, 10 May 2012, one Mr Kawsu Fadera, was overseeing the affairs of the Institute, which both the students and staffs were happy with. However, on Thursday, 10 May 2012, staffs and students were greeted with the unpleasant news of the reinstatement of Mr Abdoulie Bah as their CEO. This prompted the young students and their teachers to take their rejection of his appointment to the relevant authorities at the Ministry of Youths and Sports inBanjul.

 However, their protest march was quickly stopped at theDentonBridgeby members of the Gambian security forces. Then the Inspector General of Police and the Minister for Youths and Sports swiftly came to the scene to meet with them. After hearing their grievances, they were assured that the matter will be resolved at the immediate spot, as the President was informed about their issue, which prompted his ordering of the Inspector General of the police to come to the scene and make sure that their concerns are addressed.

As a result, the aggrieved students and their teachers left peacefully and returned back to their homes.

However, to their surprise, some of their friends were arrested that night on Friday, 11 May 2012 many of whom are feared to have been subjected to torture in detention.  Our reporter learnt that, one Mr Joseph Fogbawa was the first to be picked up by the security forces on Friday night at his family home, and many others the following morning on Saturday, 12 May 2012. Among them was Abbas Sandeng and Rohey Fofana; the first female student to be picked up.

Our reporter contacted some concerned parents, who confirmed the arrest of their children. Our reporter further visited the institute premises, this morning where he met some students who explained to him what happened. One of the students, he spoke to (name withheld) expressed: “I wish the international world is aware of things happening in theGambiaright now. These government officials are dammed liars; how can they think they can fool us the next day! We are all in these together and arresting some while leaving others is a cowardly act. Why didn’t they arrest the entire school”?

This was echoed by three other students, who also accused the Ministry of Youths and Sports of lying to them. One young girl among them charged Mr Bah of following any girl he can lay his hands on in the institute. She alleged that “all they care about now is following us young girls to exploit us when they knew they are old enough to be our fathers. But if we were their daughters, they would pretend that they are angels from the sky.”

Our reporter confirmed that about twenty people were arrested by the Security forces and detained at various police stations and NIA headquarters.

When contacted; Ms F. Badgie of the Ministry of Youths and Sports, who answered our call, banged the phone on us saying “if you are a journalist, go to hell”

At the time of going to press, we learnt that some of the arrested students and teachers were brought beforeKanifing Magistrate Court. Some of the students and teachers were granted bail, after meeting the condition of having a Gambian surety and bail bond of D5, 000 per person.

Kibaaro News has learnt one of staff member Saikou Nyassi is currently being treated at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital from injuries he has sustained from the NIA torture chambers. Our correspondents on the ground are working around the clock to fish out the details of Mr Nyassi’s situation.